Trial Over Fires

Union Leader For Trial Over Fires

TRADE UNION leader Apisai V.

Tora will stand trial at the Supreme Court of Fiji on November 29 on three charges connected with the fire at Korolevu Beach Hotel on August 29, when 27 bure-type dwel lings were destroyed.

Tora was committed for trial after a three-day inquiry at Sigatoka.

During it the prosecution called about 40 witnesses, including three prisoners who had earlier been gaoled for three years for setting fire to the bures. Altogether eight men, former workers at the hotel, are in prison for arson.

Tora was charged with setting fire to 27 bures at the hotel; with at tempting, on July 25 at Suva, to procure Isimeli Tubutubu to com mit arson, in that he incited him to set fire to the bures; and with at tempting, on July 28, to procure Isimeli Tubutubu to commit arson in that he incited him to organise a gang to set fire to some of the bures.

Tora reserved his defence. He was refused bail.

The prosecution alleged that Tora addressed a meeting on August 8 of Korolevu Hotel workers who had been on strike. He told them of incidents connected with strikes in Malaya when strikers burnt houses.

Tora also allegedly told them that workers caused trouble at Suva during a strike in 1959. They threw objects at cars and assaulted people.

Apisai Tora.