Joshua Rahman, a Canadian national with Fijian heritage convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for being in possession of 39.5 kilograms of cocaine, wants to stay in Fiji until his appeal of conviction is completed in the Fijian court system.
His lawyer Gul Fatima explained this to the High Court yesterday when the Director of Public Prosecutions’ application for his extradition to New Zealand to face charges of importing illicit drugs.
The DPP filed the application on the request of New Zealand authorities.
State Prosecutor Jayneeta Prasad said all documents in the matter had been filed and a hearing had previously been vacated, pending the outcome of the appeal – Rahman’s appeal of his conviction and the DPP’s cross appeal of his sentence – which were still at the leave stage and pending the fixing of a hearing date on June 2.
Ms Prasad told the court Rahman would be brought back to Fiji after the case in New Zealand came to a close and serve the remainder of his prison term in Fiji.
She said whatever the outcome may be the DPP’s position was that he should return to serve out his sentence in Fiji.
She also said the New Zealand authorities’ position was that Rahman should be able to exhaust all the appeal processes in Fiji.
Ms Fatima said he wanted to remain in Fiji until his appeal processes were concluded before being sent to New Zealand.
The matter will be called for mention on June 9.
