Parramatta Eels NRL star Maika Sivo charged with indecent assault in Fiji

Eels superstar Maika Sivo, charged over an alleged indecent assault involving a female bartender at a poolside Boxing Day party, has been granted bail by a Fiji magistrate who blocked him leaving the country.

• Sivo flies back to Australia for hand surgery

Eels superstar Maika Sivo has been banned from leaving Fiji after he was granted bail on a charge of indecently assaulting a female bartender at a poolside Boxing Day party.

The winger asked in Nadi Magistrates Court yesterday to be allowed to return to Australia to start off-season training with Parramatta but was knocked back.

Magistrate Peni Dalituicama told the NRL star he was “no special case” and ordered him to surrender his passport after the charge he faced was upgraded from indecent annoyance to indecent assault.

Maika Sivo outside court in Nadi today. Picture: Sadhana Sen

After spending Sunday night behind bars, Sivo fronted court flanked by his parents and supporters.

Court documents showed Sivo, 26, was charged with “unlawfully and indecently assaulting” Agnes Bauwa “by touching her stomach” on December 26.

Sivo’s lawyer Mosese Naivalu requested to enter a plea on behalf of his client but this was rejected by the magistrate. Instead a plea is expected to be entered on his next court date on January 7.

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Mr Dalituicama told the court that “Sivo is no special case” as he placed a “stop departure” on the player’s movements outside Fiji and set bail of $500.

Sivo arrived in court with a T-shirt over his head and slides on his feet.

The Fiji National Rugby League Acting CEO Don Natabe was seen by the family’s side during the day.

Sivo appeared in court with his head covered. Picture: Sadhana Sen

When approached by The Daily Telegraph outside court, Sivo’s father Joeli Sivo said “everything will be all right”.

“Everything will be all right and is possible with God. He (Sivo) will be back soon. We will take him home.”

Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo will face court in Fiji charged with indecent annoyance. Picture: Joel Carrett

Sivo, who was spotted drinking at a luxury resort on Boxing Day on the evening before his ­arrest, is expected to say he was trying to get the woman’s ­attention when the incident occurred.

Police say the incident took place near the town of Nadi, about 30km from Sivo’s home village, where he had been with family.

Sivo is flanked by family during their Christmas celebration in Momi.

Sivo with parents Joeli Nawalu and mother Mere Nawalu. Picture: Fiji Sun/Waisea Nasokia

A guest at the Wyndham Resort, on Denarau Island, told The Daily Telegraph her husband recognised the league’s leading try scorer when they spotted him in the pool bar.

“He was totally harmless,” the woman said. “He wasn’t being rude or obnoxious, he was laughing and having a good time. There was nothing, no trouble or anything at that time.”

A spokesman for the Eels said: “Maika and the Club are respectful of Fijian law and we continue to offer our full co-­operation with local law enforcement authorities.

“The Eels will continue to liaise with the NRL Integrity Unit and will provide a further update to stakeholders as the situation progresses.”

Wyndham Resort Denarau Island at Nadi.

Originally published as Parramatta Eels NRL star Maika Sivo charged with indecent assault in Fiji