Magistrate highlights lack of space at St Giles Hospital for drug addiction cases

Magistrate highlights lack of space at St Giles Hospital for drug addiction cases

By Iliana Biutu , Rashika Kumar
05/11/2024
Photo:File

Suva Magistrate Yogesh Prasad says Saint Giles Hospital does not have enough space to accommodate the increasing number of individuals addicted to marijuana and other drugs.

This statement was made in relation to the case of 29-year-old Timoci Vuki Takubu, who has been charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm where he assaulted his siblings.

He has pleaded guilty to the charges.

On October 18th this year, Takubu assaulted his brother Setareki Takubu Vuki and sister Anna Nikai at their residence in Kalekana Settlement in Lami.

Timoci was looking for his marijuana apparatus in his room but could not find it, leading to a commotion among his siblings.

When asked by Magistrate Prasad, Timoci says he started smoking marijuana since he was in Year 8 and he is addicted.

Timoci also told Magistrate Prasad that he got the drugs from someone who sells it on the streets.

Magistrate Prasad says drugs are clearly available on the streets and families are suffering.

He says he wants to send Timoci for rehabilitation but there are none in Fiji except the St. Giles Hospital which is full.

He says he will send him to Nasinu Corrections Facility which has a program that will help him.

The Magistrate says one of these days Timoci will kill his siblings and assault his father.

His siblings informed Magistrate Prasad that they do not want Timoci to return home because he consistently causes problems.

They say they are fed up and do not want his brother home as he also assaulted his father.

The siblings also told the court that they do not want to forgive him as this is not his first time and that Timoci should be put in jail.

Timoci will be sentenced on the 18th of this month.

Click here for stories on the Drugs Situation in Fiji

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