High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has given time to defence lawyer Litia Vateitei of Astas Law to talk her clients – suspended radio announcer Paula Nabuta and 21-year-old student Joji Kaitani if they want to take a progressive approach in the case.
Justice Temo had asked Vateitei if she wants to talk to her clients and the lawyer said she would appreciate if she would be given time to do that.
Nabuta and Kaitani are charged with one count each of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
They were allegedly found with 912 grams of marijuana on the 28th of September.
Nabuta is separately charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs for allegedly possessing 6.342 kilograms of marijuana on the 28th of September.
The two men have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After the Case Theory was read out in court by the DPP lawyer Zenith Zunaid, Justice Temo said the evidence the prosecution have appears to be strong on paper.
Justice Temo said the amount of drugs being dealt with in the case was six kilograms and that was in category four which was a sentence of between seven to fourteen years if Nabuta and Kaitani were found guilty following a trial.
The Judge stressed in court that Nabuta and Kaitani have the right to argue the case.
Justice Temo went on to say that if people want to commit a crime, that’s fine because its a free world but they should be prepared to face the music.
The Judge said honesty is the best policy.
Justice Temo added if people think they haven’t got a chance they should plead guilty because a vast discount will be given for a guilty plea.
The Judge said he will reward people who exercise honesty.
While extending Nabuta and Kaitani’s bail, Justice Temo told the two men to turn up for trial because if not there will be trial in absentia.
Trial in absentia is a criminal proceeding where the accused is not physically present at those proceedings.
The case will be called again on 24th December 2021.
