4 Oct 2019

Vanuatu Speaker pleads not guilty in assault case

5:09 pm on 4 October 2019

Vanuatu's Speaker of Parliament has pleaded not guilty to charges surrounding the 2016 assault of a woman in Luganville.

Symbol of law and justice in the empty courtroom, law and justice concept, court

Photo: ikiryo/123RF

Seule Simeon has been charged in the Magistrates Court with malicious damage to property, intentional assault, intentional kidnapping and attempted intentional assault.

Mr Simeon has denied all charges.

The prosecution is set to call at least four witnesses to the stand while the defence says they have at least three witnesses.

A three day trial has been set from 4 November.

Mr Simeon was earlier ordered to pay $US5000 in damages to the woman in a civil case.

The speaker has not decided whether to appeal that case.