Court warns officers over legal aid access for drug accused

The Suva Magistrate Court warned escorting police officers this morning to ensure that the three people accused of drug possession are taken to the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) office to apply for legal representation.

Ginna Choi, Lagomarchino Baules, and Peniasi Delai appeared before Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad. Each faces one count of possession of 0.345 grams of methamphetamine.

Choi also faces an additional charge of possessing FJ$977.60, ₱200 (Philippine pesos), and US$4 (FJ$9.20), all suspected to be proceeds of crime. Baules has an additional charge of being a prohibited immigrant after overstaying his visitor’s permit by 16 days.

The matter took a turn when the three declared they would represent themselves. When questioned by Magistrate Prasad, Baules told the court they had not been escorted to the LAC since the last proceeding and had received no assistance with their legal aid applications.

A visibly frustrated Magistrate Prasad called for a short adjournment to have a LAC lawyer present in court to assist the accused.

After the adjournment, the three escorting officers were summoned and asked why the court’s previous orders had not been followed.

With no explanation provided, Magistrate Prasad warned the officers that failure to comply with the directive to take the accused to the LAC could result in contempt of court charges.

State prosecutor Eoghan Samisoni told the court that responses to the bail applications of the three accused have been filed and served to each of them.

Mr Samisoni also requested additional time to finalise the prosecution’s position on consolidating the current case with two other related matters into a single file. One of the cases is currently before Magistrate Sufia Hamza, while the other is before Magistrate Viniana Diroiroi.

All three accused will remain in remand until November 5.