Bail denied amid human rights, interpreter concerns in Suva drug case

Three Chinese nationals appeared at the Suva Magistrate Court yesterday, charged with drug-related offences and possession of suspected criminal proceeds.

Yu Yuan Feng, Dai Ming Hui and Zhou Lan appeared before Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi. They each face a charge of unlawful possession of illicit drugs after they were allegedly found with 39.509 grams of methamphetamine.

Zhou faces an additional charge of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime after police allegedly seized $7180, US$60,000 ($FJ136,000), $HK1520 ($443), and 1600 Chinese Yuan ($508) from her.

Yu faces two further charges; unlawful supply of illicit drugs and possession of property suspected to be proceeded of crime. He was allegedly caught with $906.25 in cash and accused of engaging in transactions for the transport and supply of methamphetamine on Tuesday.

Drug accused Zhou Lan on September 26, 2025.

Photo: Ronald Kumar

Interpreter issues in court

The trio faced language difficulties after the court interpreter was unavailable.

A police officer attempted to interpret in Mandarin, but Yu told the court in English that he could not understand the translation.

Magistrate Diroiroi ordered that a certified Mandarin interpreter be present for future hearings.

Defence raises human rights concerns 

Defence lawyer Shirley Tivau made an oral bail application, telling the court that her clients were pleading not guilty and had already been held for more than 48 hours. She argued this was a breach of their rights.

Ms Tivau alleged that Zhou, the only female accused, was strip-searched, claiming her clients’ “human rights were stripped away.”

She further argued that no Mandarin interpreter was present during the police raid. The defence signalled it may file a constitutional redress application, citing difficulties in taking client instructions if the accused are remanded without consistent access to interpreters.

Ms Tivau said her clients were tourists in Fiji and not a flight risk, as their travel documents were held by police.

She claimed that the large sums of money found on them were for travel expenses and said that Lan was due to leave Fiji next Tuesday. She also said her clients had been unable to contact their families because their phones were seized by police.

The police prosecution opposed bail, arguing that the charges were preliminary and investigations were ongoing.

Prosecutors added that releasing the accused could jeopardise the investigation, which was why their cash and mobile phones had been confiscated. The case has been adjourned to next Friday for a bail ruling.