Abourizk, Muriwaqa Hopeful to Gain Legal Representation on Next Court Date

Two men who were involved in one of Fiji’s biggest drug bust cases are hopeful to gain legal representation on their next court date.

The men, Australian national Joseph Abourizk and Fiji-based taxi driver Josese Muriwaqa, were convicted and sentenced to 14 years each in jail by the High Court in Lautoka in 2016 after they were found guilty of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.

They were found in possession of 49.9 kilograms of cocaine in Vuda, Lautoka on July 13, 2015. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled on a limited retrial for a new Judge to hear the matter.

The pair appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.

Abourizk told the court that he had sought assistance from the Australian High Commission

to help him arrange some funds to engage a lawyer.

He told the court that he was represented by a senior lawyer from Australia since 2015 and that he had been in prison for nearly eight years.

State prosecutor Lee Burney told the court that he was mindful of Abourizk’s position. Mr Burney said the State’s position was that both accused persons would need to be given a strong warning that if they hadn’t resolved the issue by the next mention date a trial date would be fixed and they both would proceed unrepresented.

He told the court that another solution was to take a mention date to four weeks to look into the issue of legal representation. Lawyer Mark Anthony, who is representing Muriwaqa only on his bail issue, told the court that he had instructions from Muriwaqa that he was also facing financial strains and had only acquired his services for the bail hearing.

He stated that Muriwaqa sought 28 days from the court to organise legal representation. The matter has been adjourned to February 13.

Meanwhile in his bail hearing, Mr Anthony told the court that the defence position was to object to any adjournment because Muriwaqa had consented further time for the

State to file their responses on two occasions. He said Muriwaqa had been in prison for seven years and the bail application was filed on November 8, last year.

State lawyer Rukalesi Une told the court that the State would file their responses in three days. The matter has been adjourned to January 23.