Suspended police officer in meth case bailed
Varinava Sabua faces charges of abuse of office and receiving corrupt benefits linked to 4.7kg methamphetamine; plea set for February 25.
Tuesday 23 December 2025 | 20:00
Suspended police officer Varinava Sabua outside the Suva Magistrate Court.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
A suspended police officer charged in connection with 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine was bailed by the Suva Magistrate Court yesterday.
Varinava Sabua appeared with his lawyer, Amani Bale, before Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi for his bail ruling.
He faces one count of abuse of office and receiving corrupt benefits.
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It is alleged that between April 25, 2024, and February 27, 2025, Sabua engaged with a well-known drug dealer to negotiate payments to Customs officers, an Immigration officer, and a Police prosecutor to lift a Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) on a person of interest.
He is also accused of receiving $22,877.27 in corrupt payments via Western Union between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
The court considered Sabua’s circumstances, including recovery from leg surgery, in granting bail.
Conditions of bail include:
- Payment of $2000 bail, with two sureties bonded at $1000 each;
- Weekly reporting to Valelevu Police Station between 6am and 6pm;
- No interference with the state and no reoffending;
- Daily curfew from 6am to 6pm;
- Surrender of passport to the court registry;
- Stop departure order to be issued; and
- Residence at Valelevu Police quarters, with no change of address without court permission
The matter is adjourned to February 25, 2026 for plea.
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