Boxer told: Keep hands to yourself

Sitaleki Maka leaving the Auckland District court yesterday. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Boxer Sitaleki Maka was told to keep his hands to himself when he made a brief appearance in the Auckland District Court yesterday to have his bail conditions altered.

The 20-year-old lightweight, selected to represent Tonga at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, was granted bail when he appeared in court on assault charges this week.

He is alleged to have been involved in a serous assault against four teenagers. Two of the victims were hospitalised.

Maka has pleaded not guilty to two counts of injuring with intent to injure and common assault.

He has not entered a plea to a separate charge of aggravated robbery. His bail application on Tuesday was strongly opposed by police, saying he was considered a flight risk and there were fears he would reoffend.

One of Maka's alleged victims, an 18-year-old hit on the head with a bottle and kicked while he was on the ground, was angered by the decision.

In granting bail, Judge Michael Behrens said the boxer's desire to take part in the Games weighed heavily on him.

The judge said if he were to deny bail, "Then I would really cast you into some sort of a pit from which a person who has possibly alcohol problems and problems with violence may never climb".

Maka was bailed on a 24-hour curfew and was not to leave home unless with a family member or his trainer.

Yesterday, Judge Behrens changed the date that Maka was to surrender his passport from March 27 to 29 as he would not return from the Games until March 28.

As Maka left the dock, Judge Behrens said: "Make sure you keep your hands to yourself till more appropriate occasions."