The Lautoka High Court has rejected a bail application for Ethan Kai, an Australian citizen charged with Unlawful Importation of Illicit drugs valued at about $30 million.
Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe dismissed the application on the grounds of unlikelihood of surrender to custody if granted bail and interest of justice.
In his ruling, Justice Rajasinghe says the offense is serious in nature in that it involves the trafficking of 29.9 kilograms of heroin, one of the largest found in the history of Fiji.
He adds, the offense which involved sophisticated planning attracts a heavy penalty if Kai is found guilty.
In addition, Justice Rajasinghe says the hearing of the charge has been fixed for next month, so Kai is not required to remain in prison for long.
He says although Kai has no community tie in Fiji and no property or family interest in Fiji, he has failed to specify a location of residence nor shown evidence of how he will finance staying here.
Kai arrived in Fiji in December 2014 and was arrested by Police on the 20th of the same month after about 80 packets of heroin were discovered inside a consignment of quad bike tyres at the Queen Elizabeth Wharf in Lautoka.
