I wish I never listened to a con man (Justin Ho)!
Fourth accused Jale Aukerea made this comment while testifying at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday that former national squash rep Justin Ho had forced him at the Seaqaqa Police Station in Vanua Levu to take the blame for the 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine drugs seized at Legalega in Nadi in January last year.
The Nadi businessman also said he had lied in his police caution interview that he was in charge of the drug operations.
When his lawyer, Edwin Wainiqolo, asked why he conceded to Mr Ho’s demands, he said, ‘I know you got the house for your cousins, and they found drugs in there, that means you have knowledge’.
“And then he (Justin) goes, ‘don’t worry I have connections in Suva and I’ll get us out of this, you just have to say you did it and I threaten him (Justin) and Louie’s life’.”
When asked if he had anything else to say, Mr Aukerea replied: “I wish I never listened to a con man!”
On January 22, 2024 Justin Ho, Louie Logaivau and Jale Aukerea were apprehended at Cobia Island in the north, while allegedly trying to flee from Fiji because of their involvement in the drug bust.
During cross-examination, State lawyer Joeli Nasa had put to Mr Aukerea that he had testified of going to Savusavu with his family on January 16 that year.
He then said he travelled on to Taveuni to get kava.
When pressed that he normally secured his kava from Savusavu, Mr Aukerea said his “customers were asking me for Taveuni kava”.
He denied Mr Nasa’s assertion that he was picked up by Mr Ho with the plan to flee the country because of the drug investigations that had begun in Nadi.
“No, not me. I would not flee no country.”
Mr Nasa then asked why he was on a fibre boat with Mr Ho Justin, Mr Logaivau and the captain, heading for Wallis and Futuna.
Mr Aukerea, who had never been to Taveuni, said he didn’t know he could travel to Taveuni by ferry and did not find the fibre boat ride suspicious.
When Justice Aruna Aluthge asked Mr Aukerea whether he told police he was going to buy kava when he was arrested on Cobia Island, he said he related the story Mr Ho wanted him to tell.
“He told me everything about this case, from what was happening at Motorex and what was happening at Maqalevu,” Mr Aukerea said.
Mr Nasa pointed out that Mr Aukerea had sworn by the Holy Bible that he was on his way to Cobia Island for a camping trip which contradicted his kava buying story.
To that, he said they were going to Cobia Island for a stop over.
“He (Justin) told me ‘don’t worry, I’ll take you to Taveuni’ before he goes to whatever place he wants to go.
“And he said that we will camp there.”
Mr Nasa put to Mr Aukerea that he had no camping equipment and was lying to save himself.
“And the truth is, you organised the property in Legalega through Sakiusa Tuva, you used him and organised the property at Maqalevu, you used Sakiusa Tuva to transfer the consignments of drugs there.”
Mr Aukerea said “No, that is incorrect. The truth will save me.”
The trials continues today with the continuation of evidence from co-accused Ratu Osea Levula and Viliame Colowaliku.