The bail hearing for the 40-year-old Shonal Shiv Sharma charged with being in possession of 640.139 grams of imported cocaine, will take place on Friday as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is now objecting to bail.
Sharma, from Tamavua, is alleged to have been involved in the unlawful importation of the illicit drugs between the 24th of last month to last Thursday.
Police Prosecution had not objected to bail yesterday but requested that strict bail conditions be imposed.
However, as the matter has been transferred to the ODPP, prosecutor Eoghn Samisoni is objecting to bail.
Sharma's lawyer Feizal Haniff told Suva Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi that how can circumstances change overnight and all of a sudden, Sharma is a flight risk.
The bail hearing will take place on Friday afternoon.
Police had earlier said that Sharma and three others were arrested following a joint operation that uncovered 640 grams of cocaine hidden inside a device labelled as a ‘Smoke Machine’.
They said the consignment, which was sent from Brazil, was intercepted last Monday after a detector dog identified it as suspicious.
They added that a controlled delivery led to the arrest of the suspects, with Sharma formally charged.
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