A businessman has been warned by Suva Magistrate Yogesh Prasad that a medical doctor will be called if he continues to present last-minute medical certificates to avoid attending his trial. The 42-year-old defendant has been consistently submitting medical reports whenever his case is scheduled, indicating a troubling pattern that has caught the court’s attention.
The businessman faces serious charges, including 12 counts of posting intimate visual recordings and one count of criminal intimidation related to his 37-year-old wife. It is alleged that he uploaded intimate videos of her to a pornographic website without her consent. The situation came to light when the woman discovered the videos and reported the incident to the Police Cybercrime Unit, resulting in the formal charges against him.
Upon pleading not guilty to all counts on August 26, 2024, the case has been pending in the courts since 2021. Magistrate Prasad emphasized the importance of moving forward, setting a one-week trial to commence in May and underscoring that no further delays would be permitted. He affirmed the principle that the accused remains innocent until proven guilty.
Senior State prosecutor Pooja Mishra confirmed that the State is prepared to proceed with the trial. Bail for the accused has been extended, with the next pretrial conference scheduled for March 17. This case highlights the challenges within the legal system in addressing serious accusations and the judicial responsibility to ensure that cases are resolved in a timely manner, promoting justice for the parties involved.