Cyprus nationals not ready for plea
Defence lawyer Mark Anthony, who is representing two Cyprus nationals charged with money laundering, told the High Court yesterday that his clients were not ready to take their plea.
The two accused men namely Loizos Petridis, 42, and Cleanthis Petridis, 46, appeared before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.
The two men are jointly charged with 293 counts of money laundering.
They were arrested by Police on December 19, 2017 and were released on bail in the Magistrates Court in Suva on February 23, 2018. However, their bail was reversed by Justice Daniel Goundar on April 12, 2018 following an appeal by the Prosecution to the High Court and they were remanded accordingly.
State lawyer Saif Shah filed and served information in court and indicated that he would be filing disclosures on the next court date.
He also said there were no admissions in their caution interviews.
Mr Anthony requested for another date to be given for the accused to make their plea. He also informed Justice Rajasinghe that his clients spoke the English language. Further Mr Anthony said his clients were not given access to a telephone in the Suva Remand Centre to contact their lawyer and their family in Cyprus.
Justice Rajasinghe told him to raise the issue with the Commissioner of Prisons.
The two men have been further remanded in custody and their case has been adjourned to June 4, 2018 for plea.
Edited by Percy Kean