Magistrates Court to make a ruling on submissions made by both lawyers on Rahman’s extradition case on the 25th of this month

The Suva Magistrates Court will be making a ruling on the 25th of this month on submissions made by both the defence and state lawyers in relation to the application where New Zealand wants to extradite Joshua Aziz Rahman.

Rahman was convicted and sentenced to 23 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 14 years imprisonment for being in possession of 39.5 kg of cocaine on 14th February 2019.

Magistrate Waleen George says once the submissions are done, the court will make a ruling and send his file up to the High Court.

DPP lawyer Jayneeta Prasad says their stand on this is that Rahman can go and face trial in New Zealand and come and then he completes serving his sentence in Fiji.

Prasad says this is from Section 39 of the Extradition Act.

Rahman’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma informed the court that he wanted an assurance that whatever Rahman’s sentence is in New Zealand, it will and should be deducted in his current sentence term in Fiji.

Sharma says if that is the assurance given by the DPP, then Rahman will consent to surrender to be extradited.