“I have only seen this in movies!”
These were the words of accused, David Heritage, who stunned the High Court in Lautoka yesterday with claims that a Russian national pointed a gun at his head and threatened to chop his children into pieces and feed them to sharks.
The threat, he claimed, followed a failed methamphetamine pickup from Yasawa waters in December 2023.
“I’ve only seen this in movies,” Heritage told the court, describing the man as having a strict, military-like demeanour.
Fearing for his family, Heritage said he remained silent until now, only speaking out after discussing it with his wife.
Mr Heritage claimed the threat followed a miscommunication over the facilitation of a drug consignment from Yaqeta Island in the Yasawas to the Vuda Marina outside Lautoka.
While giving evidence in the 4.15-tonne methamphetamine case, Mr Heritage said he was a marine engineer and operated a marine repair business on Denarau Island in Nadi.
He told the court that a Lebanese national who, according to court evidence, also faces drug-related charges in Australia, approached him in November 2023 about assisting with the transport of a drug consignment.
Mr Heritage said the man, who owned a Jet Ski company on Denarau, offered to pay him for his services.
He said the Lebanese national informed him that if he was not available, a man named Justin Ho would take over communications.
Mr Heritage said Mr Ho later dropped off a smartphone registered on Threema, an encrypted messaging app that does not require a phone number or email address.
He said all communication took place via the app using code names.
Mr Heritage said prior to a staff party on December 20, 2023, the Lebanese national sent him coordinates for a pickup. Mr Ho allegedly gave him $30,000 in cash for logistics.
He told the court he departed from the Vuda Marina around midnight to Yaqeta Island but failed to locate the exchange vessel. Due to poor connectivity, he did not inform Mr Ho that he had gone to the wrong location. He said he later anchored at Musket Cove due to fuel concerns and returned to the Vuda Marina the next morning.
Upon returning to his workplace in Denarau, he found a white, tinted Hyundai Elantra rental vehicle parked outside. Inside were Mr Ho and a man introduced as “my Russian friend”.
Mr Heritage said the Russian national demanded that he use the same barge, Mobi 2, to bring in the consignment. He told them it was unavailable due to another booking.
However, he said the Russian national insisted they go to the Vuda Marina. There, the Russian man allegedly became angry that the barge crew was late. Mr Heritage said he explained there had been an accident at Saweni, Lautoka.
He said the Russian national, sitting in the driver’s seat, opened a waterproof bag, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at the right side of his head.
“He told me to arrange everything in getting the drugs into the mainland,” Mr Heritage said.
He claimed the Russian national then threatened to kill his family.
“It would start with his children by chopping them into pieces and feeding them to the sharks.”
He said the only thing running through his mind was that this man was “a Russian Mafia”.
“I would only see this in movies, and since then I have been living in fear.”
When asked by his lawyer Litiana Volau why he did not report the matter to police, Mr Heritage said he did not trust them.
“I was only thinking of Russian Mafia, where no one can protect you from them, not even the police.”
He also recalled the 2016 murder of a Russian couple in Natadola, which reinforced his fears.
Prosecution challenges Heritage’s story
During cross-examination, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku suggested Mr Heritage fabricated the entire threat.
Mr Rabuku put to him that between November 1 and December 23, 2023, no such threat took place, and that Mr Heritage never mentioned it in his police statement.
Mr Rabuku said: “You did not go to the police to reveal these threats by the Russian national.”
He pointed out that Mr Heritage disclosed nothing about the threats or the 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine during his caution interview on January 25, 2024.
Mr Rabuku argued that Mr Heritage had “two serious offences”, his knowledge of the drug consignment and the alleged threat yet he chose not to report either.
Mr Heritage replied: “My family’s life was at stake.”
Mr Rabuku claimed Mr Heritage had several opportunities to report the incident but did not, because he was motivated by money.
He told the court that Mr Heritage had been promised $2 million in February, 2024 for helping facilitate the meth shipment, a claim Mr Heritage confirmed, saying, “Yes”, and that he was to be partially paid once the drugs were delivered.
Mr Rabuku said: “You were only thinking of the money to improve your business equipment and your family’s livelihood.”
Mr Heritage replied: “That is not correct.”
Justin Ho declines to testify
Meanwhile, drug accused Justin Ho did not give evidence in court yesterday. His lawyer informed the court he would remain silent due to concerns for the safety of his family and friends.
Justice Aruna Aluthge told the court he could not compel Mr Ho to take the stand, as it was his legal right to remain silent.
The trial continues today, with the defence expected to present further evidence.
