46- year- old bus driver who was involved in an accident in Lakena Nausori has been granted bail by the Nausori Magistrates court.
The accident claimed the lives of two students.
Shalen Jattan has been in remand since his first appearance in a special court sitting at the Nausori Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Jattan is charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving.
Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne said that when Jattan was first produced in court, the prosecution has submitted they have a strong case against him and that was one of the reasons to remand him.
Magistrate Somaratne said that however, the prosecution has failed to elaborate about this during the bail hearing.
The Magistrate said that Jattan is a first offender and has no pending case in the courts.
The Magistrate said that tragedy of this magnitude where children have died and others were injured would draw national interest as well as sympathy but Jattan’s liberty cannot be deprived to quell the public outcry.
He said that Jattan is presumed to be innocent until the judgment is delivered.
Jattan has been released on $1000 bail with two sureties in the same sum.
He has been ordered to report to Nausori Police Station every Saturday and not to interfere with any witness and not to re-offend.
A stop departure order has been issued and to surrender traveling document.
The matter has been adjourned to 29th October.