Magistrate orders man’s release

POLICE were ordered to release a man allegedly found in possession of 0.2 grams of marijuana who had been kept in custody for six days awaiting lab analysis results.

Luke Tui was granted bail by Magistrate Lisiate Fotofili who reminded the lawmen that it was not necessary to keep a suspect in police custody while waiting for an analysis report.

He was produced in court charged with one count of being in possession of illicit drugs. The court was told that he had in his possession 0.2 grams of cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana.

Mr Fotofili informed the police prosecutor that such a case did not warrant the need for the suspect to be kept in police custody for such a long period of time.

The accused was released on bail and was informed to await his plea on June 23 next year.