The court has on Wednesday granted an application to vary a bail application for a man facing a rape charge.
Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo ordered that only a certified copy of the passport will be given the accused for the purpose of a medical report.
He ordered that the original passport will still be held in the court’s custody as prosecution objected to the release of the accused’s passport.
Malcolm Akoforau has applied for the release of his passport for the purpose of making a medical report in preparation for his trip to Australia as a seasonal worker.
His passport has been detained since last year when was charged and released on bail.
This was because he was a frequent seasonal worker and therefore poses a flight risk.
Private lawyer Samuel Balea who represents the accused has made a request for a nolle proseque (no longer prosecute) to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODDP) but the Director is yet to reply.
The matter was therefore adjourned to tomorrow for the DPP’s respond to the defence’s request.
The accused is facing a rape charge in relation to an allegation in 2011 where he allegedly raped a woman in Honiara.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN