Fiji: The prime minister's son faces criminal charges related to domestic violence charges in a court in New South Wales.

Ratu Meli Bainimarama, 36, has been charged with 17 domestic violence-related offences, including five counts of assault with actual bodily harm, two counts of stalking, four counts of general assault, one count of destruction or damage to property. Involves a count of counting, intentionally. Delivering an intimate image without consent, and intentionally suffocating a person without consent are four counts.

The alleged crimes took place in Sydney between February and May of 2022.

Bainimarama, the only son of Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, was detained last week. He has been released on bail.

On Saturday, an interim suppression order was issued to prevent the identity of the alleged victim or Bainimarama from being published.

On Friday, ABC lawyers challenged the suppression order in Windsor local court, arguing that not allowing the publication of the defendant's name violated the principle of open justice.

"Suggesting that reporting material will affect jurors a year from now is hypothetical," said ABC senior attorney Corey Janaki.

The magistrate ruled that the interim suppression order should be vacated so that Bainimarama could be identified, although the identity of the alleged victim could not be disclosed.

The first mention of the charges against Bainimarama was heard on Thursday at the Windsor local court, northwest of Sydney. The following mention will take place on 13 October.

Bainimarama did not appear in person, but through an audio link with his lawyer.

On Thursday, three Fiji citizens sat on old wooden poles watching proceedings in a public gallery. He had no personal knowledge of Bainimarama.

"We just wanted to come and see him because we thought he would be here," said Fioko Vanuarua, originally from Fiji's Lau Islands.

The men said the case came at a difficult time for the prime minister, who is preparing for an election in November in what some analysts believe will be the closest battle in recent Fiji history.

"Right now, he's feeling the heat," explained the third person.

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