The Suva Magistrate Court has vacated the trial for three Chinese nationals, Yu Yuan Feng, Dai Ming Hui, and Zhou Lan, who face drug-related charges stemming from an incident on Rewa Street last month. The defendants appeared before Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi, where Prosecutor Eoghn Samisoni expressed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (ODPP) inability to proceed with the trial due to the short timeframe they had to review the casefile received only a week prior from police prosecution.
During the proceedings, the defense argued that Yu Yuan Feng was not in possession of any drugs at the time of his arrest and contested the state’s claims regarding the other two individuals allegedly trying to dispose of drugs during the police search. Moreover, the defense contended that the police executed their search without a warrant and forcibly entered the property, which warrants a challenge in court.
Magistrate Diroiroi acknowledged the substantial submissions from both parties but ultimately determined that it was administratively unfeasible for the prosecution to conduct the trial, leading to the hearing being vacated. The magistrate did not rule on the defense’s application for legal costs and allowed the prosecution until the end of the week to respond regarding bail matters, set to be revisited next Tuesday.
The defendants are accused of possessing 39.5 grams of methamphetamine, and Zhou Lan is also charged with holding significant amounts of foreign and local currency that authorities believe are linked to criminal activities, including $7,180 Fijian, $60,000 U.S., and other currencies. Additionally, Yu Yuan Feng faces charges of illegally supplying methamphetamine and possessing suspected criminal proceeds.
This case demonstrates the judiciary’s approach to handling serious drug-related offenses while ensuring that defendants’ rights are maintained, reflecting a broader commitment within Fiji’s legal system to effectively process drug-related charges. The upcoming bail hearing is anticipated to provide further insight into the legal strategy that will unfold in this case, while the focus remains on maintaining community safety amid ongoing drug enforcement initiatives.