A 41-year-old former police officer appeared in the Supreme Court facing forgery charges where he is alleged to have forged documents using the name of another police officer

Visesio Anthony Sitani Silao is charged with two counts of forgery.

For the first charge it is stated in the charging document, that at Moto'otua on or between 1 June to 30 June 2022, the above-named defendant willfully made a false document namely, a deed of guarantee and in indemnity, by signing the name of Vani Vai, with the intent of using it to obtain a pecuniary advantage or benefit.

It is also alleged that at Matafele on 17 February 2022, the above-named defendant willfully made a false document namely, a consent letter, by using the name of Vani Vai, knowing it to be false, with the intent that it be used and acted upon as genuine, thereby committed the crime of forgery.

Jude Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma adjourned the matter to Monday for the court to consider the application of name suppression by the defence counsel and also the application from prosecutor Maiavatele Timothy Fesili to oppose name suppression for the defendant.

Prosecutor Maiavatele's grounds to oppose name suppression stated that they dismiss the defendant's motion or grant the name suppression of the defendant on an interim basis until the determinations of the fact finder at the conclusions of this proceedings.

Maiavatele stated that the defendant is facing two charges relating to forgery regarding his actions concerning this matter as noted in the affidavit of the defendant.

He also highlighted the threshold for name suppression, the courts in New Zealand note that a court should be weary when declining name suppression for a defendant who was not being convicted and where publications will have serious adverse consequences for the defendant.

Visesio will re-appear for the court to consider his application for name suppression on Monday and for his counsel to have a look at the final charges from the prosecution and will decide on a plea based on the charges.