Man given until June 4 to find a lawyer, take plea
It was alleged that the two civilians aided and abetted the unlawful interference of the seized illicit drug
Anare Buresolei Vulaki, 27, has not made an application for Legal Aid Commission representation yet. Vulaki is among the five men, including Police officers, who are allegedly involved in the tampering with drug evidence at the Totogo Police Stateion between February 9 and 10.
The Police officers: Roy Peter John Senibici, Inoke Jeke Tikomaimalevani and Samisoni Ralulu, were charged with one count of Interfering with Evidence, Contrary to Section 37 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.
Vulaki and Anare Buresolei were charged with one count of Aiding and Abetting Interfering with Evidence, Contrary to Section 45 of the Crimes Act 2009, and Section 37 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.
The five accused persons appeared before Magistrate Seini Puamau at the Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
It was alleged that between February 9 and 10, the three officers unlawfully interfered with a seized illicit drug, namely methamphetamine, seized during a police operation.
Vulaki told the court...he had been in remand for some time...he had just buried his uncle who had bailed him out.
On the same date, being a party to the offence of interfering with evidence, it was alleged that the two civilians aided and abetted the unlawful interference of the seized illicit drug during the conduct of a Police operation.
During the court proceedings, Vulaki told the court that he was not able to file his application on time because he had been in remand for some time.
He said they had just buried his uncle, who came to bail him out.
Magistrate Puamau questioned his reasoning for being in remand given that he was released on bail on March 19.
Given that he was not legally represented in court, the additional disclosures were served directly to him.
Magistrate Puamau has given him until the next mention date to find a lawyer and prepare his plea.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for Buresolei has pleaded with the court for more time to go through the additional disclosures which hasn’t been served to all the defense lawyers.
The additional disclosures consisted of records of an interview conducted with the accused.
The lawyer of the three officers, Jioji Cakau, who appeared minutes before the proceeding was adjourned, agreed with Mr O’Driscoll. He was then served with the disclosures.
Magistrate Puamau then adjourned the matter to June 4 for plea.