Court

Bail ruling for Lateef deferred until Wednesday

August 23, 2019 2:43 pm

Former Suva lawyer Shazran Abdul Lateef has been further remanded by the Suva Magistrates court.

Lateef was produced before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili this morning charged with being in possession of illicit drugs for the fifth time.

He was arrested following a raid at his house in Nailuva Road, Suva on Wednesday last week.

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Lateef was allegedly found with white substances weighing point zero six three grams which later tested positive for methamphetamine and dried leaves that tested positive for marijuana.

In court today, defense lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo submitted that the drugs were found on the second floor of the house in a room which did not belong to Lateef.

Defense also submitted that the rooms were occupied by Lateef’s friends during the raid.

He also argued that his client had not breached bail conditions as the references made by prosecutors to previous cases have since been dropped by the DPP’s office.

Vosarogo also informed the court that his client was not charged and produced in court within 48-hours of his arrest and that there is no concrete evidence to prove that the drugs belong to Lateef.

Police Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence submitting that the accused had been released four times and has a total of five cases of being in possession of illicit drugs before the court.

Submissions were also made that the accused who had been a lawyer for more than 30 years had re-offended every time he was released and has made a mockery of the judicial system.
The prosecution stated that the former lawyer had no respect for the court and the decisions made.

The court also heard that the likelihood of Lateef re-offending was high and he should not be granted bail.

It was also revealed in court that Lateef’s practicing license was cancelled by the Chief Magistrate in April this year.

Lateef’s bail ruling will be delivered next Wednesday.