The Fiji Police Force has clarified that personal belongings claimed to be missing in an ongoing alleged illicit drug importation case were released to the accused’s legal representative, while other items remain in Police custody as exhibits.
This follows a newspaper article published yesterday regarding the case before the Lautoka High Court.
The article said that the accused had informed the court that several personal belongings seized by Border Police were missing, including clothing, perfumes, jewellery, bags and a bottle of liquor.
Police say an Internal Affairs review of the claims confirmed that these items had been released to the accused’s legal representative on 9th July this year.
The accused’s counsel also claimed that a knapsack, handbag and power bank were missing.
However, Police say it has been established that there was no instruction for these specific items to be released, and they are being retained as exhibits.
They say concerns were also raised in relation to drugs going missing, however, the drugs seized are being kept at a secure location.
Police say internal oversight into the storage and security of exhibits are continuously being strengthened, and such claims if true would have been dealt with swiftly through internal disciplinary measures.
