The Supreme Court has issued a suppression order on the 17-year-old male charged with arson in relation to a fire at the gas station in Sa’anapu will stand trial in August, 2022.
The order was handed down by Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, “suppression order to issue, given defendants age prohibiting further publication of his details, photograph, matters concerning his case in particular the video (CCTV) of the alleged incident.”
The defendant appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday, where he entered his plea to not guilty.
The court heard earlier the family of the defendant has already performed a traditional apology to the owner of the gas station and the apology was accepted by the owner.
The defendant who is out on bail is represented by Quentin Sauaga and prosecuting was Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa.
The defendant was released out on bail with conditions that he surrenders his travel documents to the Court Registrar and report to the Poutasi police station to sign ever Friday.
Furthermore, the defendant was ordered to stay away from any petrol station, and not to have any direct or indirect contact with prosecution witnesses and remain a law abiding citizen.
