Trial delayed as drug accused fails to appear in court

The trial of drug accused Zoe Maharaj Moore was delayed after she failed to appear in the Suva Magistrate Court today.

Moore, a former beauty queen, had been scheduled to stand trial on a charge of alleged possession of methamphetamine. Proceedings could not begin in her absence.

Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne has issued a production order directing that Moore be brought before the court tomorrow for the commencement of her trial.

She is accused of being found with 0.083 grams of methamphetamine on July 20, 2020, at an apartment on Brown Street in Suva.

Moore remains in remand in relation to a separate case. She is accused of being found in Delainavesi, Lami, on February 13 with a grenade, 0.111 grams of methamphetamine and a pinch bar.

Authorities also allege she had $345 in cash and items including CCTV cameras, a speaker and an electronic scale, suspected to be proceeds of crime.