Suva Magistrate Yogesh Prasad says action must be taken when a lawyer is paid to represent clients in a serious criminal case but fails to appear in court.
He highlighted this after the counsel for Ginna Choi, Lagomarcino Baules and Peniasi Delai, who were allegedly found with methamphetamine in Rewa Street, Suva, did not attend court this morning.
Choi and Baules informed Magistrate Prasad that they have already paid their counsel, Jerry Dinati and that he had met with them yesterday.
Magistrate Prasad questioned what could be more important than a case of this nature.
The Magistrate informed the three accused that they could seek assistance from the Legal Aid Commission.
@fijivillage.com Magistrate slams lawyer’s absence in Rewa Street meth case
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They have agreed to proceed with Legal Aid’s free services.
The three are alleged to have been found in possession of 0.345 grams of methamphetamine in a Rewa Street home last month.
The matter has been adjourned to October 22nd for bail hearing.
Delai is a Fijian citizen, Choi is a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, while Baules is from Palau.
Choi and Baules are related and are in Fiji on tourist visas.
All three are charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
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