An internal police investigation is now underway following the disappearance of physical and documentary evidence in a case involving former Suva lawyer and convicted drug offender Shazran Abdul Lateef who was allegedly found with methamphetamine and marijuana in 2019.
This methamphetamine and marijuana possession case against Lateef may be dismissed as Police Prosecutor Gajendra Prasad had asked the court to vacate the trial last Thursday while they await advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Lateef’s lawyer, Joji Cakau had said that the prosecution had informed the court last year that the evidence was missing but had insisted that the trial continue.
The case has been adjourned to September 8th.
Meanwhile, Lateef is currently serving a prison sentence of three years and eight months for possessing 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 4th last year.
He has pleaded not guilty, with that trial set to begin on July 22nd.
