Court to rule on bail for duo accused in meth transport

The Suva Magistrate Court will deliver its ruling next Tuesday on two separate bail applications filed by a suspended senior police officer and a civilian.

The two are both charged in connection with the unlawful transportation of 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Suspended police officer Sevuloni Lubi faces charges of unlawful importation and possession of 4.7kg of methamphetamine and possession of $650, believed to be proceeds of crime.

Alipate Matadigo is charged with unlawfully transporting the same quantity of drugs.

They appeared separately before Magistrate Charles Ratakele today for their bail hearings. State prosecutor Unal Lal handled both cases.

In Lubi’s case, Mr Lal argued that there were no new circumstances to justify bail. He dismissed the defence’s claim of a high risk of HIV transmission at the Suva Remand Centre as unsupported.

Lubi’s lawyer, Joji Cakau, told the court that remandees share shaving gear, increasing the risk of infection, and that communication with his client at the remand centre was difficult.

He also cited mounting legal costs, which he said could be managed more efficiently if Lubi were released on bail.

In Matadigo’s case, his Legal Aid lawyer, Mesake Waqanivanua, told the court that his client was the sole breadwinner for his elderly parents and needed to care for them.

He argued that Matadigo was innocent until proven guilty and compared his case to the recent 4.15-tonne meth case, where the accused was granted bail, saying the same should apply to his client.

Prosecutor Lal objected to both applications, stating that Lubi’s claims lacked evidence and that Matadigo’s grounds were insufficient given the seriousness of the charges.

He added that Matadigo’s medical condition could be treated at the remand infirmary or referred to hospital if necessary.

Both rulings are scheduled for next Tuesday.