Sixteen individuals connected to the alleged Vatia drug bust faced the High Court in Ba today. The proceedings before the High Court of Fiji saw State Prosecutor John Rabuku request additional time to reassess the charges and review the evidence collected by police before filing formal allegations.
Rabuku indicated to the court that the prosecution is meticulously analyzing which charges will advance as substantive offences and which will be classified as conspiracy charges under the Illicit Drugs Control Act. This review process will consider the potential for some accused individuals to receive immunity, whether any charges need amendments to correspond with the evidence, and if further investigations are warranted.
The court noted that, according to the law, conspiracy charges could be applied even if an individual did not physically possess the drugs but was supposedly involved in the planning stages of their importation, transportation, transfer, or storage. The State has organized the case into three distinct components: one substantive case concerning alleged importation and possession, alongside two additional conspiracy-focused cases.
Ongoing investigations will inform the State’s next steps, with the outcome of the evidence review playing a pivotal role in determining how the prosecution will proceed. The case has been adjourned, granting the prosecution ample time to finalize its assessment and clarify the direction of the legal process.