Lack of report stops bail
Rastaman Rapatini, one of three men men charged with the attempted robberies at Katikati Park Rd Dairy and Waihi Mobil Service Station in June, remains in custody. Rapatini, 20, from Te Aroha, was expected to make a bail application in Tauranga District Court yesterday but the electronically monitored bail assessment report is not yet available.
Rapatini, who is yet to plead to two joint charges of assault with intent to rob, was further remanded in custody until October 1, when there may be a possible bail application. One of his two alleged co-offenders, Jeremiah Reti, 17, from Mangakino, was granted bail last week and he was due back in court on October 10. The third member of the trio, a 19-year-old Rotorua man who has interim name suppression, was due back in court today.
Accused 'a flight risk'
A 35-year-old man accused of stabbing three Te Puke men last month remains behind bars. Gurcharan Singh, of Te Puke, charged with three counts of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others, made another brief appearance in Tauranga District Court yesterday. Late last week, Singh lost his bid to appeal Tauranga Judge Peter Rollo's decision to refuse him bail after the judge cited concerns that he posed an "extremely high flight risk". Singh is yet to plead and was further remanded in custody by Judge Paul Geoghegan. He is due back in court on September 24.