Prosecution witnesses maintain that Rahman was released from custody while defence alleges he was never released

The lawyer of drug accused Joshua Aziz Rahman has alleged in court today that Rahman was never released from custody and was kept in for more than 48 hours while two prosecution witnesses maintain that Rahman was released and then re-arrested.

Rahman was allegedly found in possession of 39.5 kg of cocaine in Caubati in 2019.

Rahman’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma put to prosecution witness ASP Rupeni Taoka that Rahman was never released however Taoka says that he was the one who released Rahman from custody.

Sharma also put to Taoka that Rahman was continuously detained since his arrest in Nadi and this is a cover up to which Taoka replied that this was not the case.

Another prosecution witness, Usaia Donu told the court this morning that he was the one who re-arrested Rahman after he was released from custody at the CID.

Donu said that Rahman was arrested outside the CID.

Rahman’s lawyer then put to Donu that Rahman was never allowed to leave and this is all just a mock up to which Donu said he was acting on instructions to re-arrest Rahman.

The trial will continue before Justice Daniel Goundar this afternoon.