A methamphetamine and marijuana possession case against former Suva lawyer Shazran Abdul Lateef could be dismissed after both the documentary and physical evidence in the matter could not be located.
The trial was expected to begin today, however, Police Prosecutor Gajendra Prasad asked the Suva Magistrates Court to vacate the trial while they await sanctioning from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Prasad told the court that both the documentary and physical evidence cannot be found.
Lateef’s lawyer, Joji Cakau says the prosecution had informed the court last year that the evidence was missing but had insisted that the trial continue.
Cakau says the defence wants the trial to proceed and the matter resolved.
The case has been adjourned to September 8th.
Meanwhile, Lateef was previously convicted and sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment for possession of 9.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of marijuana.
He is also facing a separate charge of allegedly possessing 0.584 grams of methamphetamine on December 4 last year. He has pleaded not guilty, with that trial set to begin on July 22nd.
