The Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP), Rusiate Tudravu has sent a team of detectives to investigate how two-kilogrammes of cocaine went missing from the Namaka Police Station.

This was confirmed by Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro.

It comes after the High Court in Lautoka yesterday dismissed a drug trafficking case Justin Ho and Frederick Epeli.

The two were jointly charged with one count of unlawful importation and exportation and one count of unlawful possession, manufacture, cultivation and supply of illicit drugs.

The two were alleged to have facilitated in exporting two kilograms of cocaine and illicit drugs on December 23, 2018.

The drugs were supposed to be used as for the case however State filed a nolle prosequi (no longer prosecute) following the news.

What happened

On Monday, Ho’s lawyer, Iqbal Khan asked the court for the drug evidence to be present when Winston Kafoa, a state witness, was going to give evidence on Skype.

State lawyer Prenika Lata then asked for a two-day adjournment for the Namaka Police to locate the drugs, but Justice Chamath Morais allowed only a day.

Yesterday, the State revealed that Namaka Police did not have the drugs and thereafter filed the nolle prosequi.

Squash player and national rep, Ho, said he had always been innocent from the start.

“From the start I was innocent and I still remain innocent. I just want to thank God, my lawyer, Mr Khan and his co-counsel, Filimoni Daveta, and my family and friends who were here to support me and get me through the process,” he said.

“I was remanded for one year and eight months, I was never on bail.

“My plan now is getting back into squash and back into representing Fiji and aim to win a gold medal this time.”

Epeli was a former Fiji Airways flight attendant and was represented by Aca Rayawa.

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj