Fiji meth bust in January (file image) Photo: Fiji Police
Three Fiji police officers and two civilians charged in relation to alleged tampering with drug evidence last month were refused bail by a Suva court on Tuesday.
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew said the three police officers are charged with interfering with evidence, and the two civilians face one count each of aiding and abetting interfering with evidence.
"The three are alleged to have between the 9th to the 10th day of February, 2024, unlawfully interfered with a seized illicit drug namely methamphetamine, seized during the conduct of a police operation," Chew said in a statement.
"It is alleged that the two between the 9th to the 10th day of February, being a party to the offence of interfering with evidence, aided and abetted the unlawful interference of seized illicit drug namely methamphetamine seized during the conduct of a police operation."
All five face an additional charge of conspiracy to defeat justice.
The men, who were held in remand since 26 February, appeared at the Suva Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The are set to be back in court on 19 March.
Fiji police previously said the methamphetamine allegedly tampered with at the Totogo Police Station was not linked to the evidence from the January meth raids in Nadi.
In a statement to RNZ Pacific last month, Assistant Commissioner of Crime, Mesake Waqa said the investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters had taken over the investigations.
"The evidence in question is not linked to the methamphetamine bust in Nadi, but a case recorded within the Southern and Central Division, whereby a woman has already been produced in court in relation to the incident," he said at the time.
Police did not respond to RNZ Pacific's question about whether a portion of the drug evidence was missing.
Fong Chew reiterated that all reports received against police officers will be investigated, with due processes followed, and if police officers are found guilty in a court of law, they have no place in the Fiji Police Force.
Local media BC reported the five accused have been remanded in custody until March 19th, when the case is set to be recalled at the Suva Magistrates Court.
Last year, the Fijian government made the admission it was losing the fight against the sale and consumption of illegal drugs in the country.
