A police officer who was expected to search Zoe Maharaj Moore’s house for drugs has told the Suva Magistrates Court that when they arrived, Moore handed over the drugs to the officers herself.
While responding to questions from Police Prosecutor Sergeant Shailend Prasad, police officer Basilio Vevewa says they had received information that someone was selling drugs at an apartment on Brown Street in Suva.
He says due to time sensitivity, they decided not to obtain a search warrant and proceeded to the apartment.
Vevewa says that when they arrived, Moore was the only person inside and he told her they were there to conduct a search.
The police officer says Moore handed over the methamphetamine to them herself.
While responding to questions from Moore’s lawyer, Mesake Waqavanua, Vevewa confirms that a female police officer was with them at the scene; however, he had forgotten to mention her in his statement.
When questioned, Vevewa denied that the drugs were in the compound outside and that he had told Moore to hand them to him.
He also denied asking Moore for money earlier that day and arresting her when she did not give him anything.
When asked if anything else was found in the apartment, Vevewa confirmed that they did not search the apartment.
Moore was allegedly found with 0.083 grams of methamphetamine on 20th July, 2020, in an apartment in Brown Street, Suva.
She is in remand for the case where she was allegedly found in Delainavesi, Lami on 13th February with a grenade, 0.111 grams of methamphetamine, and a pinch bar.
She also allegedly had $345 cash and CCTV cameras, a speaker, and an electronic scale, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The trial continues tomorrow.
