In a twist of events, the drug accused in the 4.15 methamphetamine trial are turning their backs on each other.
At the High Court in Lautoka yesterday, third accused Louie Logaivau, who was referred to as Mr Justin Ho’s boy, claimed that he was verbally threated by Mr Ho to move a container of drugs from an empty office space in Denarau, Nadi to his warehouse. Mr Logaivau told the court that he informed Mr Ho he did not want to get involved or do any errands for him.
He claimed Mr Ho aggressively told him in a commanding order to “move those f***ing containers”, if not something would happen to his family.
Mr Logaivau also claimed Mr Ho was involved with some mafia gang. He also claimed a person who was involved in the drug operations was beaten up by a mafia crew for not following orders.
Mr Logaivau was then employed by Mr Ho at his car wash business at Denarau.
He said he got to know Mr Ho through his younger brother who was a close friend of his.
Mr Logaivau said he thought it was a legitimate business because Mr Ho had a cafe, a barber shop and a car wash business operating in that warehouse, and that he was paid $140 weekly.
His lawyer Mark Anthony asked him where he was in late December 2023.
Mr Logaivau said it was on December 22, 2023, that Mr Ho had asked him to do something “for him” because his life was also at risk.
Mr Logaivau claimed a group of men, who he suspected were Russian Mafia, had visited Mr Ho’s warehouse while he and another employee were having a bowl of kava.
He said from this incident, Mr Ho had instructed him to go to the empty office space beside David Marine Repairs in Denarau to move some containers.
Mr Logaivau said he informed Mr Ho he did not want to get involved or do any errands for him.
He claimed Mr Ho aggressively told him in a commanding order to “move those f***ing containers”, if not, something would happen to his family.
Mr Logaivau claimed Mr Ho was involved with some mafia gang.
He also said a person who was involved in the drug operations was beaten up by a mafia crew for not following orders.
Mr Logaivau said he wanted to leave but Mr Ho told him not to or else they would also go after his sister.
He said since his mother and father have passed on, he did not want to lose his sister and kept following what Mr Ho was instructing him to do.
Mr Logaivau said while he and another employee had unloaded the white bail bags from the containers, he suspected that it was drugs, and it scared him.
He said he suspected there were more people involved in these drug dealings.
Meanwhile, during cross-examination, State lawyer Joeli Nasa said Mr Logaivau was making these claims against Mr Ho for the first time since his caution interview between January 25 and January 27, 2024.
Mr Nasa said Mr Logaivau was moulded in a strong Christian household.
He also put to Mr Logaivau that Mr Ho had confidence in his work and trusted him, adding that he (Louie) was Justin’s boy.
Mr Nasa had put it to Mr Logaivau that when he started working for Mr Ho, he knew it was a legitimate business.
Mr Logaivau said it was a legitimate business because he was paid in cash and it was different from working at a Bible shop in Nadi, his previous place of employment.
Mr Nasa then said it wasn’t legitimate because there were no FNPF deductions.
He also asked Mr Logaivau to confirm whether the Bible shop had his FNPF deducted. Mr Logaivau said it was deducted sometimes.
Mr Nasa then put to Mr Logaivau that when he was working for Mr Ho, his FNPF was not paid because it was not a legitimate business that was operating as a front.
“You worked for Justin from 2022 to 2023, you would have known whether it was a legitimate business or not,” Mr Nasa said.
Mr Logaivau replied “to my knowledge it was a legitimate business”.
Mr Nasa then put to Mr Logaivau that Mr Ho was operating those three businesses as a front for his illegal drug activities.
Mr Logaivau responded: “I would not know.”
Mr Nasa then put it to him “but based on your observations as an employee and somebody close to him, you can conclude that was a front”.
“Not until I had experienced what happened to me in December 2023 then I got suspicious about what was happening,” Mr Logaivau said.
Mr Nasa replied: “So, yes, it was possible that those three businesses were operating as a front.”
Mr Logaivau responded, saying: “Yes, it could be.”
Mr Nasa then told Mr Logaivau: “In court today you testified that Mr Ho threatened you, that you needed to do some work for him in unloading containers.
“And these threats, you would agree with me that it was not directed at you, it was directed at him. Because these were from third persons that were trying to come and see him.
“Because the truth is, Justin Ho never threatened you at all to do these unloading processes at David Marine Repairs on Denarau Island.
“You did not go straight to the police to lodge a complaint there and then.”
Mr Logaivau replied: “As I said, I was scared because he told me that the police were also involved in this.”
Mr Nasa then told him: “Louie, you went to Natabua High School, you were taught in school about the reporting mechanisms.
“Yes, you could have picked up the phone and called the cops. But you did not do that, at least call your sister to inform her that this is the position that you are in.”
Mr Logaivau replied: “No, I did not.”
Mr Nasa said: “And even when you were interviewed by the police from the 25th to 27th of January 2024, you kept your mouth shut.”
“You did not raise these claims that you are now telling the court between the 25th to the 27th of January 2024.
“And you are only raising it now because it is a matter of convenience to you.
“I suggest to you that you are lying, it is not the truth.
“You are suggesting this now because it is a matter of truth for you to escape liability.”
Mr Logaivau replied: “No.”
Mr Nasa said that Mr Ho was not around from 1pm to 10pm at night, while Mr Logaivau and another employee were unloading the bail bags at Denarau in December, 2023.
Mr Nasa put to Mr Logaivau: “Was Justin Ho there threatening you every time to unload and transfer the bags?”
Mr Logaivau replied: “No he wasn’t there.”
“Exactly because he was not there, you were doing that under your own free will,” Mr Nasa said.
The trial continues today with the defence expected to file further evidence.
