Lawyer to appeal bail denial in suspended cops meth case
Court finds no new grounds; defence cites unfair comparison and poor remand conditions.
Thursday 23 October 2025 | 01:00
Suspended police officers Sevuloni Lubi and Ratu Lote Lewaivuna outside the Suva Magistrate Court on October 23, 2025.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
The lawyer representing one of the two suspended senior police officers charged in connection with the transportation of 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine last month has confirmed plans to appeal the dismissal of their bail review application.
Ratu Lote Lewaivuna appeared alongside Sevuloni Lubi before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele at the Suva Magistrate Court this morning. Both face a joint count of possession of illicit drugs and unlawful importation.
Ratu Lote’s lawyer, Kalisito Maisamoa, confirmed the appeal after the Magistrate found no new grounds in the bail review application.
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During the proceedings, Magistrate Ratakele noted that the defence had argued Ratu Lote was now represented by a new lawyer, which they claimed satisfied grounds for granting bail. However, the court found this reasoning unfair to other unrepresented or less affluent accused persons, and no case law was provided to support the argument.
The Magistrate also pointed out that the defence’s reference to Justin Ho’s case seeking cash bail was not comparable. He said the cash amounts differed significantly, and Ho had spent months in remand, whereas Ratu Lote had only been held at the Suva Remand Centre for 38 days.
Magistrate Ratakele cautioned that if proceedings were delayed further, affecting the fixing of a trial date, the court would reconsider Ratu Lote’s bail status.
The defence’s argument regarding overcrowding and poor conditions at the remand centre was dismissed, with the court stating that such issues fall under the responsibility of the executive arm of the State.
Both accused persons will remain in remand until November 5, when Lubi’s bail application is scheduled to be heard.
