Ratu Emori Romasiwawa Tuisese bailed after alleged reckless police pursuit which saw three cop cars rammed

Police were forced to use a “rare” tactic to stop a car they say was being driven recklessly on three rims by a 21-year-old in a dramatic police pursuit in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Ratu Emori Romasiwawa Tuisese was released on bail on Thursday, with police saying he reached speeds of up to 130km/h in a 50km/h zone, rammed three police cars, and narrowly avoided hitting officers as they tried to stop him. The Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court was told the Fijian man was on a visa working as a tyre repairer in the city, and had no criminal record in WA. The bail application launched by lawyer Tenaiya Dickerson was strongly opposed by the prosecutor, who said police had to use their car to stop the grey Audi TT coupe, a tactic they “very rarely” used because of the risks it posed. Police say the car was spotted being erratically driven through the carpark of the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre on Wednesday night, with officers trying to stop the car on King Street just after 10.20pm. They say Mr Tuisese sped off down various streets, with two tyres bursting before the car stopped on Keegan Street. As officers approached the car, police say Mr Tuisese reversed, narrowly missing the officers, and drove away on three rims, with only one tyre still intact. Police say three police cars were rammed during the chase but no one was injured. The chase came to an end in the front garden of a Somerville home. The prosecutor told the court there was a strong prosecution case against Mr Tuisese, who faced mandatory imprisonment if convicted, and Border Force had been contacted as well. The magistrate, who appeared via video link from Perth, said her biggest concern in relation to bail was Mr Tuisese’s risk of flight after he said his passport was “missing”. She stood the matter down for a few hours so Ms Dickerson could make more inquiries as to the whereabouts of his passport. When the matter resumed, Ms Dickerson said Mr Tuisese’s mother had confirmed she had the passport in Perth, and could surrender it to the courts. No pleas were entered to the charges of reckless driving to escape pursuit, aggravated failing to comply with a direction to stop, never having held a driver’s licence, and use of an unlicensed light vehicle. The magistrate granted bail with a $1000 personal undertaking, $1000 surety, curfew and twice-weekly reporting to the police station, along with conditions that Mr Tuisese surrender his passport, that he not leave WA, and that he not be within 1km of an international departure point.