Suva drug accused trio remanded; one faces immigration breach

Magistrate Yogesh Prasad sternly advised both prosecution and defence to refrain from giving evidence at the bar table during a bail hearing for three individuals charged with drug possession.

Ginna Choi, Lagomarchino Baules, and Peniasi Delai appeared before Magistrate Prasad at the Suva Magistrate Court yesterday. They are each charged with one count of possession of 0.345 grams of methamphetamine.

Drug accused Lagomarchino Baules outside the Courthouse in Suva on September 26, 2025.

Photo: Ronald Kumar

Drug accused Peniasi Delai outside the Courthouse in Suva on September 26, 2025.

Photo: Ronald Kumar

Choi faces an additional charge of possessing foreign currency suspected to be proceeds of crime, including $977.60, 200 Philippine pesos (approximately FJ$780), and US$4 (approximately FJ$9).

Baules has also been charged as a prohibited immigrant after overstaying his visitor’s permit by 16 days, in breach of his visa conditions.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jone Tupou objected to the trio’s bail application, citing public interest concerns.
Defence lawyer Jerry Dinati argued that his clients were willing to comply with strict bail conditions and posed no flight risk, as their passports had been seized by police. He described the prosecution’s grounds for objection as shallow.

Magistrate Prasad noted that the prosecution’s arguments were weak and said that an affidavit from the investigating officer (IO) was essential to properly assess whether bail should be granted. He said the IO was the only person qualified to justify continued remand.

The matter was adjourned to October 7 for a formal bail hearing, and the trio were remanded in custody.