Judge recuses himself from robbery case – FBC News

Leone Lesumailepanoni (left) and Sosiveta Raura (right)

A Suva High Court judge today told two men allegedly involved in a supermarket robbery to seriously consider seeking assistance from a Legal Aid lawyer to represent them.

This came after his lawyer failed to appear before Judge Pita Bulamainaivalu.

In this matter, Leone Lesumailepanoni and Sosiveta Raura are charged in connection with a robbery at the Alison supermarket in Laucala Beach earlier this month.

The defendants reported that they had hired a private attorney who was not present in court for this matter because he was handling another case.

The judge informed the defendants that it would be counterproductive for the court to retain the same attorney and recommended that they seriously consider seeking legal counsel.

Justice Bulamainaivalu also recused himself from presiding over the case due to his personal affiliation with Raura.

Justice Bulamainaivalu informed the court that this matter will come before Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull next Monday.

Raura and Lesumailepanoni allegedly face four counts of aggravated robbery

They will reappear in court next Monday.