Court orders medical examination of two remand inmates in drug case

The Suva Magistrate Court ordered that Dai Ming Hu and Zhou Lan be medically examined following complaints of skin rash and irritation at the Suva Remand Centre.

The two, along with Yu Yuan Fang, appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza this morning in relation to their drug case.

They are charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs after being found with 39.509 grams of methamphetamine.

During the proceedings, defence lawyer Shirley Tivao raised several issues concerning her three clients’ welfare.

Ms Tivao said Yu had a medical slip from the infirmary indicating he had the presence of assault wounds on his chest.

She said her client confirmed the assault was carried out by a prison officer, identified only as Moape.

Ms Tivao requested the court to issue orders allowing her client to be examined by medical doctors and to be produced at a police station to lodge a formal complaint.

State prosecutor Samisoni Eoghan told the court that the police complaint could be filed by Ms Tivao.

However, in relation to the medical report, the prosecution had formally written to the Fiji Corrections Service and was awaiting a response.

In relation to the accused persons’ mobile phones, Mr Eoghan said police forensics had not yet completed extracting information from Zhou’s phone and that court orders were still being sought to extract information from Dai’s phone.

The court ordered that the accused person’s medical report be presented before it could make further orders allowing Yu to lodge a formal complaint.

The matter has been adjourned to January 14 for mention.

The court also noted that Ms Tivao will appear for the bail review of another Chinese national, Qing Qing Yin, who also faces drug‑related charges, together with Josaia Ravula.

That matter will be heard on January 20.