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LABASA, FIJI, August 17, 2004: A man who destroyed statues of Hindu Deities in a temple at Labasa earlier this month was yesterday granted bail by Magistrate Ramachandra Rudranathan. Onisivoro Tuiwainikai, 27, of Vunimoli, Labasa, pleaded not guilty damaging property, larceny and three counts of insult to religion. Tuiwainikai, who was represented by lawyer Harry Robinson, is alleged to have committed the offence on August 8, at a temple at Nagata, six kilometers from Labasa Town. Police prosecutor Constable Khalid Hassan told the court Tuiwainikai destroyed two religious flags valued at $20 each, ceramic and brass statues of worship valued at $2000 and a fuse valued at $30 that was stolen from the meter box.



Constable Hassan objected to bail on the grounds that the charge was serious and the offence was becoming prevalent in society. He said tension was high between the two races in the area and Tuiwainikai would be safer in custody. Mr. Robinson said he agreed the matter was serious. “But the fact that tension is high between the two races, to me, is just hearsay,” he said. Mr. Robinson said his client claimed to have been physically abused by police while in custody and he needed to be released to undergo a medical examination. Mr. Rudranathan ordered Tuiwainikai to stay within the perimeters of Labasa Town and report daily to the Labasa Police Station.

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