TWO of the nine accused in the high-profile 4.15-tonne methamphetamine case were cross-examined in court yesterday.
Sakiusa Tuva and Cathy Tuirabe, who both pleaded guilty ahead of the trial, gave evidence before High Court judge Justice Aruna Aluthge.
Tuirabe on the stand
State counsel Joeli Naivalu questioned Ms Tuirabe on her role in the alleged drug operation.
She told the court Mr Tuva had called her in December 2023 to inform her that “the drugs were in Nadi” and that she needed to go there.
She arrived in January 2024 and met Mr Tuva to discuss the matter.
The court heard Tuirabe stayed at Mr Tuva’s Votualevu home every day “to guard its contents”.
She and co-accused Ratu Osea Levula reportedly wrapped 10 packages before taking them to the Transit Hotel.
When asked by Justice Aluthge why she was guarding the items, she replied, “they contained methamphetamine”.
Ms Tuirabe said Mr Levula was outside the house while she stayed inside. She admitted being paid about $300 via M-PAiSA and said she escaped through the back door when police raided the house.
Defence lawyer Mosese Naivalu challenged her version, saying Mr Levula was in Legalega, not Votualevu. Ms Tuirabe maintained she met him in Votualevu.
She also admitted to using methamphetamine and told the court she was “chased out” of the house several times so Mr Tuva and accused Jake Aukerea could talk privately.
Tuva under fire
Deputy DPP John Rabuku told Mr Tuva he only pleaded guilty for a lighter sentence.
Mr Tuva replied: “I pleaded guilty because I committed the offence.” He added: “I serve one God and I know that God will give me mercy.”
The court heard that Mr Aukerea dropped Mr Tuva at Motorex service station and took his phone, returning it later. At the Coffee Hub, Mr Tuva met two men — one an immunity witness — who gave him $500.
Mr Tuva said Mr Aukerea had installed the Threema encrypted messaging app on his phone.
He told the court he didn’t know how to drive a manual vehicle, so the immunity witness drove a truck from Motorex to Legalega.
There, the witness unloaded the drug packages. Mr Tuva said he later fetched help from two friends to remove the remaining packages.
He said he received further instructions via Threema, although he could not confirm who sent them, but suspected it was Mr Aukerea.
The drugs were reportedly moved from the Transit Hotel to another hotel, then to a Maqalevu property in a Toyota HiAce van allegedly bought by Mr Aukerea with $3000 cash.
Mr Tuva said he placed the drugs in the toilet and master bedroom of the Maqalevu house.
He told the court the drugs were to be packaged in a silver bag, sealed, placed in a another bag with kava placed inside and labelled “Kadavu Kava” — as instructed in a message sent via the Threema app.
Defence strikes back
Defence lawyer Litiana Volau grilled Mr Tuva on the encrypted app, saying the app needed to be paid for after installation and that aliases were used. Mr Tuva agreed.
She said Mr Tuva refused to provide his password “because he did not want to snitch” and “he knew the price of leaking information was death.” Mr Tuva agreed.
Mosese Naivalu put it to Mr Tuva that he was a recruiter and brought Ms Tuirabe and Mr Levula into the operation. Mr Tuva confirmed this.
New witness twist
Mr Rabuku told the court a new witness will be called regarding first accused Justin Ho, who claims he was acting under duress.
Samuela Heritage, Mr Ho’s lawyer, objected, arguing that the witness’s statement, served mid-trial, should have been disclosed 14 days prior.
Mr Rabuku said the statement was only two paragraphs long.
Justice Aluthge asked why police didn’t initially record the statement. Mr Rabuku said it may have been for the witness’s safety and that he might have been a police informant.
Today
The trial continues with the State expected to call the immunity witness and four police officers to give evidence.
