Police unable to locate key evidence in Lateef drug case, court hears

A drug possession case against former Suva lawyer Shazran Abdul Lateef may not proceed after police revealed that key evidence linked to the matter cannot be located.

The trial was scheduled to begin in the Suva Magistrate Courtt today, but Police prosecutor Gajendra Prasad applied to have the hearing vacated while awaiting directions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

The court was told that both documentary records and physical exhibits connected to the case were missing.

Defence lawyer Joji Cakau said the issue was not new, telling the court that the prosecution had disclosed last year that the evidence could not be found but had maintained that the trial should proceed.

Mr Cakau said the defence was ready to proceed and wanted the matter brought to a conclusion.

The case was adjourned to September 8 while the Police prosecution awaits a decision from the ODPP on how to proceed.

Lateef was previously convicted in a separate matter involving possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and was sentenced in February to three years and eight months' imprisonment.

He also faces another drug-related charge in which he is alleged to have possessed 0.584 grams of methamphetamine on December 4, 2025.

Lateef has denied the allegation and that trial is scheduled to begin on July 22.

The court is expected to be updated on the status of the missing evidence when the matter returns in September.