Despite strong opposition to bail by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Justin Ho, Louie Logaivalu and Jale Aukerea who are charged in relation to the $2 billion methamphetamine bust in Nadi early this year have been released on cash bail bonds by the Lautoka High Court. Ho needs to pay a cash bond of $15,000, while Aukerea and Logaivalu $10,000 each.
Ho remains in custody as he is still trying to pay the $15,000 while the other two are released on bail with conditions after they paid their cash bail bonds.
Lautoka High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge says Ho and Logaivau must not leave or travel outside of Lautoka without the court’s permission, while Jale Aukerea must not travel outside of Nadi.
They are to surrender their passport to court, a stop departure is in place for all three and they must not interfere with the witnesses.
While delivering the bail ruling, Justice Aluthge the three have been in remand for approximately 10 months now and the substantive case is yet to be fixed for trial.
The judge says the delay is largely due to the non-disclosure of complete documents that included 700 odd photographs to the defence.
Justice Aluthge says the defence has also opposed the application made by the State to destroy the confiscated drugs until alternative testing is conducted.
The judge says the alternate drug analysis process would further add to the delay, and the defence are to challenge the admissibility of caution statements.
He says the photos disclosed are kept in a USB but the request for hard copies have been denied by the State considering the cost factor.
The three accused are arguing that the difficulty in accessing evidence against them has obstructed their right to get proper instructions from their legal counsel.
The judge adds three months have lapsed since the previous bail determination and despite extra energy being put by the Office of the DPP into expediting the trial process, the court is still unable to fix a trial date due to some pre-trial issues, the main of which is the alternate drug analysis.
The court has however indicated that this matter will be given priority and fixed fir trial within the first quarter of 2025.
Justin Ho and 9 others are charged with importing over 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine worth $2 billion into the country.
Justin Ho and David Heritage are charged with a count of unlawful importation of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that between the 1st of November 2023 to the 23rd day of December, 2023, in Nadi, the two without lawful authority, facilitated the importation of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Ho, Heritage and Louie Logaivalu are charged with a count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that on the 23rd of December 2023 in Denarau, Nadi, without lawful authority, were in possession of in excess of 4.2 tonnes kilograms of methamphetamine.
Ho and Logaivalu are charged with two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that they on the 23rd December, in Nadi, without lawful authority, were engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine from David's Marine Repairs Yard, Industrial Road, Denarau, Nadi to Subzero Car Wash/Café yard, Denarau Industrial Road, Denarau, Nadi.
It is also alleged that on the 24th of December 2023, at the Subzero Car Wash/Café yard, Denarau Industrial Road, Denarau, Nadi, without lawful authority, they were in possession of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Logaivalu, Ratu Aporosa Davelevu and another unnamed person are charged with the unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that between the 28th December, 2023 and the 29th day of December, 2023 in Nadi, they without lawful authority, were engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of in excess of 4. 2 tonnes of methamphetamine, from Subzero Car Wash/Café yard, Denarau Industrial Road, Denarau, Nadi to Motorex Business Centre, 15 Nadi Back-Road, Nadi.
Logaivalu and Ratu Aporosa are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs
It is alleged that on the 29th December 2023, at Motorex Business Centre, 15 Nadi Back-Road, Nadi, the two without lawful authority were in possession of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Sakiusa Tuva and the unnamed person are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
They allegedly between the 29th of December, 2023 to the 14h of January, 2024, in Nadi, without lawful authority engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamines, from Motorex Business Centre, 15 Nadi Back-Road, Nadi to Voivoi, Legalega, Nadi.
Aukerea, Tuva Ratu Osea Levula, Cathy Tuirabe and Viliame Colawaliku are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs where they allegedly between the 29th of December 2023 to the 14th of January, 2024, in Voivoi, Legalega, Nadi, without lawful authority were in the possession of in excess of 4.2 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Aukerea, Tuva and Keanie McPherson are charged with a count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that between the 13th day of January, 2024 to the 20th of January 2024, in Nadi, without lawful authority engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of over a tonne of methamphetamine, from Voivoi, Legalega, Nadi to Maqalevu, Narewa.
Ho is also charged with a count of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime where on the 23rd of January 2024 in Taveuni, he allegedly possessed cash amounting to $21,691.60, AUD450 and USD100, suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Logaivalu is also charged with a count of possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime where he on the 23rd of January 2024 in Taveuni, allegedly possessed cash amounting to $112.25, suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Aukerea is also charged with a count of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
It is alleged that Aukerea, on the 23rd of January, this year at Taveuni possessed cash amounting to $2,000.85, suspected of being proceeds of crime.
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