Drug accused left in limbo as lawyer fails to show
Trio advised to seek Legal Aid Commission representation after paid lawyer misses bail hearing at Suva Magistrate Court.
Tuesday 07 October 2025 | 04:30
Ginna Choi outside the Courthouse in Suva on October 7, 2025.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
Three drug accused were left waiting in the Suva Magistrate Court this morning after their lawyer failed to appear.
Lagomarchino Baules, Peniasi Delai, and Ginna Choi had been expecting their bail hearing to proceed, but the court was told their lawyer Jerry Dinati who had reportedly been paid and visited them the day before did not turn up.
They appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Karan. The trio were then advised to seek assistance from the Legal Aid Commission after being left without representation.
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It is alleged that on September 23, the three were found in possession of 0.345 grams of methamphetamine.
Choi was also allegedly found with more than $900 in cash and foreign currency, while Baules has been identified as a prohibited immigrant.
The court also heard that the trio are linked to two other cases involving five people who were arrested separately and appeared in different courts last month.
Magistrate Yogesh Prasad told the accused they could take action against their lawyer and informed them that their bail hearing could not proceed without legal representation.
He stressed that the matter was serious and that the law must be followed. The prosecution has been directed to assist in organising disclosures with the Legal Aid lawyer.
The case has been adjourned to October 22.
