A Fiji lawyer charged with assault has walked free after state prosecutors failed to turn up before the Lautoka magistrate's court when the case was called.
Haroon Ali Shah was accused of assaulting a Lautoka businessman outside the courthouse last month.
But yesterday magistrate Shafi-ullah Khan discharged Shah because the prosecutor was not in court.
Moments later Mr Shah met the prosecutor, Kemueli Tunidau, in the corridor as he was making his way to the court.
Mr Tunidau is now considering whether to recharge Mr Shah or appeal the magistrate's decision in the High Court.
