Fiji’s police chief has
confirmed that six persons of interest have been identified
following investigations into 40kg
of missing cocaine bars that were stored at the Suva
High Court evidence room.
In a news briefing on
Wednesday, Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said that
investigators are in now process of gathering evidence and
documentary records.
Tudravu said the investigation
team has recorded statements from 27 individuals as they try
to piece together information on those who had direct access
to the exhibits.
The police commissioner also
confirmed that police have taken over the security at
Government Buildings.
Earlier, in a statement on
Tuesday, police said that one person of interest was
overseas and will be questioned.
The 39 cocaine bars,
with a street value worth around US$14 million, were seized
in 2019 in connection to the high-profile Johua Rahman
case.
Tudravu said the drugs were kept in police
custody and initial tests conducted in February and July
2019 tested positive for cocaine.
The exhibits were
moved to the Suva High Court vault in March 2021, he
added.
Tudravu said Fiji Police’s digital forensic
team is working on extracting available CCTV footage as well
as biometric records.
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“While I understand that the
sense of urgency is demanding quicker rest, we are doing our
best to ensure justice prevails,” he said.
“Fiji
Police is taking seriously the concerns raised by government
and the Fijian people, and I want to give my assurance that
we are treating this investigation with utmost
urgency.
Tudravu also confirmed that police have set
up a dedicated team at the CID headquarters, consisting of
senior investigators from the Major Crime Unit, digital
forensic unit, anti-many laundering and proceeds of crime
division.
Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions has also issued
a defensive statement clarifying its role in managing
the drug exhibits.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni
Rabuka has called on Fijians to trust the
judiciary.
He warned that the authorities were coming
after the “rogue elements” within the judiciary.
“We
are going to find them and they are going to face the
consequences of their actions,” he told local reporters at
Government Buildings in
Suva.
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