$35m Drug Case Pretrial Checklist Hearing Deferred

The pretrial checklist hearing for Marc Winston and Shaneil Suresh Autar was deferred by the High Court in Lautoka to next month. This was due to the state having to make amendments to Winston’s pretrial checklist.

Winston and Autar appeared before Justice Riyaz Hamza on Tuesday at the High Court in Lautoka charged with one count of unlawful possession, manufacture, cultivation and supply of the illicit drug and one count of unlawful importation and exportation of illicit drugs.

The duo allegedly facilitated the exportation of 34 parcels of cocaine with a street value of FJ$35 million on October 8, 2019 to Australia.

Justice Riyaz Hamza said he would set a trial date while awaiting the pretrial checklist hearing.

Justice Hamza set the trial date to take place from April 17 -28, 2023, and adjourned the matter to May 19 for the pretrial checklist hearing.