Parramatta Eels superstar Maika Sivo faces New Year’s Eve behind bars in Fiji after indecently annoying’ a barmaid and touching her ‘below the belly’ in a bid to get her attention
- Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo was charged with indecent annoyance in Fiji
- He will appear in a Fijian court on Monday after an alleged incident at a hotel
- The NRL club released a statement and said it will be monitoring the situation
- It is believed he touched a barmaid ‘below the belly’ while she was working
- She complained to her worker who fired her then she reported it to the police
- He is expected to claim he was doing it to ‘get her attention’ and meant no harm
Parramatta Eels star Maika Sivo spent the night in jail in Fiji after he was accused of ‘indecently annoying’ a barmaid at a luxury resort.
The 26-year-old was charged with indecent annoyance of a woman in her 20’s and faces New Year’s Eve behind bars.
Sivo was celebrating with family in the poolside bar at the Wyndham Resort, on Denarau Island on Boxing Day.
He is expected to claim in court that he touched the barmaid in a bid to get her attention, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The arrest was confirmed by the Parramatta Eels NRL on Sunday who said they had informed the NRL integrity unit.
Parramatta Eels star Maika Sivo spent the night in jail in Fiji after he was accused of ‘indecently annoying’ a barmaid at a luxury resort
Sivo was seen celebrating with family (pictured) at the Wyndham Resort’s popular poolside bar, on Denarau Island
‘The club takes these incidents seriously and will be monitoring the situation closely,’ the statement said.
‘As with any legal matter, it is important that we follow due process, and the club will review all information available regarding the alleged incident.’
A woman staying at the luxury resort told the publication her husband recognised Sivo on Boxing Day and said he was ‘totally harmless’.
‘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,’ she said.
The woman said the star rugby league player was drinking with friends and family and participated in ‘traditional Fijian New Year customs’ which involved splashing people with water.
‘He was throwing water on people but everyone was doing it, absolutely no aggression, no anger, no arguments or anything,’ she said.
It is believed Sivo is accused of touching the barmaid when she was serving he and his family drinks.
The 26-year-old could remain behind bars for New Year’s Eve after he was charged with indecent annoyance of a woman in her 20’s at a hotel
The Telegraph reported that Maika will say in court that he attempted to get the woman’s attention and touched or pulled her skirt to do so.
The woman was allegedly fired after complaining to her her employer about what happened.
She then reported the incident to police who arrested Sivo on Saturday with one count of indecent annoyance.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of one year behind bars.
Sivo had never played rugby league when he left the small Fijian village of Momi in 2015, but has since become one of the NRL’s highest try-scorers.
He is contracted to the Eels until the end of the 2021 season and debuted in round one this season, quickly becoming the NRL’s top try scorer with 22.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wyndham Resort on Denarau Island for comment.
He is contracted to the Eels until the end of the 2021 season and debuted in round one this season, quickly becoming the NRL’s top try scorer with 22