Kadavu Raid Men Facing Drug Charges Remanded By Court
Four men arrested after Police raids in Kadavu were further remanded yesterday by the Suva Magistrates Court.
The accused are facing charges of possession and cultivation of illicit drugs.
The first two accused, Amani Masikerei, 25, and Samuela Natokalau, 23, allegedly without lawful authority cultivated plants believed to be marijuana weighing 1046.8 kilogrammes.
Police prosecutor Inspector Jitendra Singh served the accused men with full phase disclosures in court.
Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili then transferred the case to the High Court because of the substantial amount of drugs found. Masikere and Natokalau were advised to file their bail applications in the High Court.
Inspector Singh also made an application for the court to issue a destruction order because the Police had difficulty in keeping the items in custody.
However, Chief Magistrate Ratuvili instructed the prosecution to keep the drugs safe in custody until the matter was called in the High Court.
A third accused, Viliame Kawa, 38, was also served with full phase disclosures and his case transferred to the High Court.
Kawa is alleged to have cultivated 15 kilogrammes worth of marijuana on January 12 this year.
The fourth accused, Livai Maravu, 38, pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Ratuvili yesterday after he admitted to possessing a parcel of illicit drugs weighing 82.9grams.
Maravu was convicted for the offence and admitted that on January 15, 2018 at about 11am a team of officers found a green plastic containing some dried leaves and seedlings inside his house.
In his mitigation, Maravu said he was single and was a farmer by profession. He sought forgiveness from the court and promised not to reoffend. The court heard that the accused had one previous conviction from 2010. Maravu was further remanded in custody and will be sentenced by Chief Magistrate Ratuvili on February 1, 2018.
Masikerei, Natokalau and Kawa will appear in the High Court for first call on January 22, 2018.
Edited by Naisa Koroi
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