3 February, 2026, 5:43 pm Central - 30°C Rain

Former Counter Narcotics Bureau officer pleads not guilty to abuse of office and corruption charges, and further remanded

Former Counter Narcotics Bureau officer pleads not guilty to abuse of office and corruption charges, and further remanded

By Rashika Kumar
17/10/2025
Former Counter Narcotics Bureau member, Varinava Sabua

Former Counter Narcotics Bureau member, Varinava Sabua, who is charged with abuse of office and receiving a corrupt benefit has pleaded not guilty to both the charges.

He has been further remanded.

The Office of the DPP is seeking further time to respond to Sabua's bail application.

Sabua's counsel Joji Cakau informed the court that his bail application has been filed and served in reasonable time.

He has requested the court to consider that his client is sickly and has been in remand for some time.

The matter has been adjourned to the 27th of October to check the status of the State's bail response.

Sabua has been charged with one count of abuse of office, as he is alleged to have between January 2023 to December 2024, whilst being a police officer, abused his authority and engaged himself in unauthorised financial dealings whereby he obtained a gain of more than $22,000.

The 47-year-old is also charged with one count of receiving corrupt benefit for the same transaction as without lawful excuse, he received a corrupt benefit amounting to more than $22,000.

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