Legal Aid confirms the 17-year-old boy was granted bail in another matter in August and was put in remand again from 13th to 17th Oct for allegedly re-offending

The Legal Aid Commission says the 17-year-old boy who was produced in the Suva High Court on a charge of aggravated robbery on Wednesday had been in remand from the 13th to the 27th of October because he had allegedly re-offended while on bail.

Commission Director Shahin Ali says the boy was on bail for a matter before the Juvenile Court.

Ali says the boy was first produced in court in August and was on bail from the 17th of August till the 13th of October, 2021.

The Director says due to the boy allegedly re-offending while on bail and breaching bail conditions, he was remanded by the Court.

He further says the time of remand was only 2 weeks and the boy was subsequently bailed by the Juvenile Court on 27th October 2021 when the Court learned that the 17 year old has been released on bail by the High Court.

Ali adds the Legal Aid Commission will act on the instructions of its client, in this case, considering the client is a juvenile, the parents are instructing the Commission in consultation with their child.

He says the parents have not raised any concerns nor any complaints, however, the parents are at liberty to either raise any grievances with the Commission or any other relevant authority and they will act according to any instructions issued to them.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare which is responsible for the Samabula Boys Centre says according to their records the 17-year-old was admitted at the Centre on the 14th of October.

Director Social Welfare, Rupeni Fatiaki says the boy was brought in by the Police on a Warrant of Commitment issued by the Magistrates Court and to be produced in court on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old boy is charged with a count of aggravated robbery for the matter before the Suva High Court.

The lawyer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that her records had showed that the 17-year-old and another 15-year-old boy were remanded at the Samabula Boys Centre for this case.

She said only the 17-year-old boy was brought in court.

High Court Judge, Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena informed the court that both the boys were granted bail on the 17th of August.

He extended bail for the 17-year-old and has issued a bench warrant for the 15-year-old boy.

The Court Registry confirms the boys were granted bail on the 17th of August.

Meanwhile, the alleged offence took place on the 12th of August in Suva.

$199 worth of items were stolen and police recovered items worth $99.

The matter has been adjourned to the 1st of December.