Charges against five of the 15 asylum seekers charged with rioting at the detention camp on Nauru in September last year have been dropped.
It had been alleged that the 15 caused damage at the camp costing 25 thousand US dollars.
The other ten asylum seekers have entered not guilty pleas and will be back in court next Monday for mention.
Charges of riotous damage have been dropped but they will still face charges of rioting and causing wilful damage.
In a separate matter this morning, an asylum seeker appearing on assault charges told the court he was concerned for his safety after a security guard allegedly threatened to kill him.
He accepted an offer from the Magistrate that the court issue a request to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship to provide assurances that appropriate measures would be taken at the centre to protect him.
