Trial for Rewa St meth accused to be held next month

The trial for Yu Yang Feng, Minghui Dai, Zhou Lan who were allegedly found with methamphetamine and a large sum of money in Rewa Street, Suva last month will be on the 4th, 5th and 7th of next month.

Feng, Dai and Lan appeared before Suva Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi and have been remanded in custody.

Their counsel Lavenia Bogitini informed the court that she has applied for Lan’s bail and will make applications for Feng and Dai later today.

Bogitini has also informed the court that Lan has rashes on her skin due to bed bugs at the remand centre and they should be in clean conditions.

She says they have only been given injections but it does not solve the issue.

The counsel also says that she is unable to converse in private with her clients because Corrections officers are always at an arms length when they speak.

Bogitini says this hinders her ability to mount a defence as the trial is within 21 days.

She also says that she does not have any objection to be brought to a neutral ground without Corrections officers lingering.

When questioned by Magistrate Diroiroi if she has raised the issue with the Corrections Officer in charge, Bogitini replied that she had and was informed that this is their procedure but raised concerns that this hinders her clients’ constitutional rights.

The Police Prosecution informed the court that the file will be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions this afternoon, which will now handle the case.

All three are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs for allegedly being found with 39.509 grams of methamphetamine.

Lan is charged with possession of property suspected to be proceeds of a crime for allegedly being found with $7,180FJD, $60USD, $1,520 Hong Kong currency and 1,600 Chinese Yuan.

Feng is also charged with unlawful supply of illicit drugs.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, without lawful authority Feng engaged in dealings with other persons for the transport and supply of methamphetamine.

He is also charged with being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of a crime.

Feng was allegedly found with $906.25 cash.

The matter has been adjourned to the 27th of this month for mention.