Police investigators are questioning an individual believed to have been involved in the tampering of exhibits at the Suva High Court, as investigations into the missing cocaine exhibits intensify.
Police said the individual is closely linked to one of the six persons of interest identified as having direct responsibility for the management of exhibits.
The individual is currently being questioned at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, while inquiries continue into the possible involvement of other persons of interest.
The latest development follows revelations that cocaine exhibits from the case of Fiji-Canadian Joshua Aziz Rahman had been tampered with while stored at the Suva High Court.
The investigation initially began after seven of 39 cocaine bars were discovered missing during an inspection on September 15. Subsequent forensic testing of the remaining exhibits returned negative results for illicit drugs. Police records showed the drugs had previously tested positive for cocaine in 2019.
The 39.5 kilograms of cocaine, valued locally at about $31 million, had been seized in 2019 and used as evidence in Rahman’s prosecution. Police later confirmed that all the exhibits had been tampered with, meaning the original cocaine was no longer accounted for.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu revealed this week that investigators had taken statements from 37 people while trying to establish who had direct access to the exhibits.
Investigators are also examining available CCTV footage and biometric access records, while a financial investigation is being conducted with assistance from the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit.
Police say investigations into the involvement of the other persons of interest are continuing.
