Legal Aid lawyers to represent drug-charged trio

Three people charged with possession of methamphetamine will have their bail hearing tomorrow after being represented by Legal Aid Commission lawyers.

Ginna Choi, Lagomarchino Baules and Peniasi Delai appeared before Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad yesterday at the Suva Magistrate Court, where two Legal Aid Commission lawyers confirmed they had received disclosures from the State.

The trio each faces one count of possession of illicit drugs. Choi has an additional charge of possessing $FJ977.60, 200 Philippine peso ($FJ8) and $U.S4 ($FJ9) suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Baules faces an extra charge of prohibited immigrant after overstaying his visitor’s permit for 16 days. State prosecutor Eoghan Samisoni confirmed that responses to the bail applications had been filed and that the prosecution would be objecting to bail.

The defence lawyers requested a bail hearing tomorrow afternoon and asked for the investigating officer to be present for cross-examination.

Magistrate Prasad granted the request and scheduled the hearing. Defence lawyers have until November 18 to consult their clients about their plea.

All three accused remain at the Suva Remand Centre until their next court proceeding.

Mr Samisoni told the court that they are intending to consolidate this case with two others as they are similar in nature.