Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga has given the reassurance that a thorough, rigorous, and completely independent criminal investigation has been initiated by the Criminal Investigations Department, Fiji Police Force, to establish the exact circumstances surrounding disappearance of 7 bars of cocaine from the Suva Court House exhibit room.
In a statement, Turaga says he is deeply concerned by the reported tampering and disappearance of cocaine exhibits, adding as the Minister responsible for the administration of justice and the upholding of the rule of law, his absolute priority is ensuring that State systems are anchored in unwavering governance, strict accountability, and proper statutory processes.
He says it is a fundamental principle of our democracy that the Executive branch does not interfere with, direct, or involve itself in operational police inquiries or judicial functions.
Turaga says as Minister, he will not be directly involved in the operational timeline or specific directions of this inquiry.
However, he says his ministerial oversight is focused squarely on ensuring that the independent investigative bodies are fully resourced, completely unhindered, and that the robust legal processes governing evidence custody are fiercely upheld without fear or favor.
The Acting Attorney General says proper handling, security, and management of exhibits held by the courts are sacred institutional responsibilities and any failure to adhere to established protocols must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
He says the public is entirely entitled to demand transparency and answers on a matter of such profound public interest.
Turaga says as proper processes take their course, people must respect the constitutional boundaries of the justice system, protect the operational independence of the police, and allow the evidence to be analyzed through independent, professional channels.
He says the Ministry remains firmly committed to systemic governance overhauls.
Turaga adds they will closely monitor the institutional recommendations arising from this independent process to reinforce our court infrastructure, protect public trust, and preserve the absolute integrity of the administration of justice in Fiji.
Meanwhile, police investigations into the disappearance of the cocaine continue.
The cocaine is linked to the case of Fiji-Canadian national Joshua Aziz Rahman, where 39.5 kilograms of cocaine worth $31 million was found at a Caubati home in 2019.
The High Court sentenced Rahman to 23 years’ imprisonment in October 2021, with a non-parole period of 14 years, following his conviction.
The matter was appealed, and the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s ruling.
