A marijuana cultivation case collapsed in the Labasa Magistrates Court after more than 50 plants listed as key exhibits went missing, resulting in the acquittal of a 45-year-old farmer from Savusavu.
Atunaisa Ravesau, of Nadonu Settlement, had been charged under Section 5(a) of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004 for allegedly cultivating 55 marijuana plants.
However, the prosecution’s case unravelled during trial when it emerged that the alleged drugs, the central evidence in the matter, were missing.
Defence counsel Sakaraia Tamanikaiqalikarua challenged the credibility of the investigation, questioning how the investigating officer could positively identify the accused and the alleged plants after knowing him for less than 48 hours.
He further pointed out that the court record showed the alleged marijuana plants were missing, raising serious concerns about evidence handling and case integrity.
Mr Tamanikaiqalikarua applied for a “no case to answer” ruling under the Criminal Procedure Act, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish even a basic case against the accused.
The court agreed, finding that the prosecution had not provided reliable or sufficient evidence to sustain the charge, and acquitted Mr Ravesau.
The investigating officer was one of only three witnesses called by the prosecution.
The matter was heard before magistrate Safaira Ratu at the Labasa Magistrates Court.
