A 25 year old charged along with four others with one count of robbery with violence, criminal intimidation and resisting arrest was today refused bail by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Gounder.
The court heard that Ropate Vakatale had applied for bail in the Magistrate's Court but the application was refused on more than two occasions.
He argued that it was unfair to remand him when his co-accused is on bail, and the other has been in remand for more than five years, also adding that he is 25 years old and single, and lives with his elderly parents and is the sole breadwinner for his family.
However Justice Gounders said Vakatale has seven previous convictions since 2001 and one conviction for escaping from lawful custody and his complaint that the fourth accused is on bail and not him is baseless, as the fourth accused has no criminal history or any history of escape and no other pending case before the courts.
Justice Gounder said Vakatale's circumstances are not the same, as he has previously escaped from lawful custody and has two cases pending for trial.
He added that the applicant is unlikely to surrender to custody and appear in court for trial and that granting bail to the applicant would endanger public interest.
Justice Gounder advised Vakatale that he should engage legal representation and prepare for his trial and he can utilize the procedure available to him in the remand centre.
