Four men facing drug charges appeared at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.

Marc Winston Tijinkonkoen, Roshneel Kumar, Shaneil Suresh Autar and Pravishek Kartik Narayan appeared before Judge Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena.

Tijinkonkoen was represented by Dorsami Naidu, Autar was represented by Jasveer Singh while Kumar and Narayan were represented by Iqbal Khan.

The accused persons are jointly charged with one count of unlawful possession, manufacturing, cultivating and supply of illicit drugs while Tijinkonkoen and Autar are additionally charged with one count of unlawful importation and exportation of the illicit drugs.

It is alleged that on October 7, the four were engaged in dealing for the transfer, transport and supply of cocaine. Tijinkonkoen and Autar were alleged to have facilitated the exportation of 34 parcels, weighing approximately 39.36kg of cocaine on October 8.

The court heard that the matter was to check on information and disclosures, however the state prosecutor, Saini Naibe, sought for more time.

Justice Wimalasena said he would set another date to provide the state with more time to file information and disclosures.

The court also heard that Roshneel Kumar and Shaneil Suresh Autar’s matters were respectively for first call and that the state would also need  time to respond to Mr Khan’s bail applications for both his clients.

Justice Wimalasena said he would not be able to set a bail hearing date until January next year.

Justice Wimalasena adjourned all the respective matters to December 10 for mention and further remanded the accused persons.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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