Former Suva lawyer, Shazran Abdul Lateef, was acquitted by Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, yesterday.

He was charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.

It was alleged that on March 23, 2019 at Raiwaqa, Lateef had in his possession 1.2grams of Indian Hemp, an illicit drug.

In his ruling, Magistrate Bodaragama said it was clear to the court that there were several discrepancies and inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses on the chain of custody of the pouches and its contents.

Magistrate Bodaragama informed the court that the inconsistencies and discrepancies go to the root of the prosecution evidence in respect of the chronological sequence of the movement of the substance allegedly found in the residence of the accused during the search.

Due to the prosecution failing to sufficiently make out a case against the accused to require him to put up a defence, Magistrate Bodaragama said there was no case to answer and dismissed the charge.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj