VILIAME Colowaliku, one of the men accused in connection with the 4.15 -tonne methamphetamine haul, yesterday denied seeing a container of meth spilling inside a truck while off-loading it at Voivoi in Legalega on December 29, 2023.
Taking the stand in the High Court in Lautoka, he explained how he was offered a job by co-accused Sakiusa Tuva on December 27, 2023 who he came to know while working at King’s Kava Bar, owned by another co-accused Jale Aukerea.
Mr Tuva was doing some construction work at the kava bar where he was employed and also a neighbour of his grandfather at Votualevu, Nadi.
Mr Colowaliku said he accepted the work as his children had to go back to school for the new school year in January, 2024.
The job came with a $500 pay and involved constructing the walls of the house located at Voivoi in Legalega, Nadi.
He said he received a call from Mr Tuva on December 28, 2023, for them to go to the empty house and that his work for the day was to construct a board partition.
He claimed he was called again by Mr Tuva the next day for them to unload building materials and this was when one of the containers fell and he saw crystal substances (later confirmed to be methamphetamine).
In response to Justice Aruna Aluthge’s question on why he did not ask Mr Tuva about the substance, he said Mr Tuva was not there, and that he’d brought another two individuals to help in the loading of the containers the next morning.
He was asked by his lawyer why he did not inform the police to which he replied that he did not trust the police and did not know who to turn to.
Meanwhile, during cross-examinations, State lawyer Joeli Nasa put to him that prior to the 4.15 methamphetamine case, he was also charged in Nausori on January 20, 2024, for being in possession of drugs he took from Legalega.
Mr Nasa also said that prior to the charges linked to the 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine, Mr Colowaliku was already dealing with drugs. He also told Mr Colowaliku he had lied to the police during his caution interview in February, 2024.
Mr Nasa said the truth was that the container had spilled and cracked from the unloading in the truck at Voivoi.
He also told Mr Colowaliku he took some drugs to Nausori and consumed it for his own benefit.
Mr Nasa also put it to him that he had installed a floodlight at Voivoi to secure the property. Mr Colowaliku denied all these claims.
The defence formally closed its case yesterday.
The trial has been adjourned to July 11 for oral submissions from the State and the defence will submit written submissions on July 14.
Judgment is expected to be announced by the High Court on July 14.
