BY ROMINAH FAKA
The case against two people accused of attempting to export dangerous drugs has adjourned for June 26 for Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC).
The matter was mentioned in court on Monday this week for a review of warrant for accused Etekia Kauai.
Prosecution told court the accused was present in court however the warrant of arrest issued was not executed.
Prosecution explained that police could not find Mr Kauai therefore could not execute the warrant.
So, police called the relatives of the accused and informed them to relay the message to Kauai to appear in court on Monday this week.
Kauai explained his reason for not appearing in the previous hearing was because he was sick with malaria and pneumonia.
Court exercised its discretion and accepted Kauai’s reason, although it was not satisfactory since he did not produce any medical evidence to prove his words.
Court cancelled the warrant against Kauai and warned him not to repeat being absent in his court hearings, or face remand.
The two accused are charged in relation to an allegation on June 19, 2019 at the Henderson International Airport.
Prosecution alleged Kauai packed eight packets of marijuana inside a speaker in 20 cm by 20 cm plastic bags. This was taken to the airport, where accused Beatrice Umea was on check-in duty for Solomon Airlines.
It was further alleged that Kauai took the package to Umea and she accepted the package as unaccompanied luggage, but tagged the package to a passenger whom she had already checked in.
When the package went through the screening, suspicious arose, the speaker was unscrewed and the packets of Marijuana were found, before it was loaded onto the flight.
The police then arrested both the accused and charge them jointly for one count of attempting to export a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Public Prosecutor Steward Tonowane act for the Crown and Beatrice Umea represent by Jennifer Happlyn of PSO, Etekia Kauai yet to confirm legal representative.
