A POLICE informant who claimed he was betrayed and used by authorities after a covert drug sting collapsed gave evidence on Monday at the High Court in Lautoka.
Two State witnesses testified before Justice Aruna Aluthge yesterday in the trial of Apenisa Matadigo, Chukwuemeka Phabian, and Uraia Tuidama Bolalailai, who face two joint counts of unlawfully importing over five kilograms of methamphetamine into Nadi last year.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku sought name suppressions for both the State’s immunity witnesses which were the informant and his cousin.
The informant told the court he began passing intelligence to Suva police to combat the syndicate, meeting Mr Phabian at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi to discuss potential routes before alerting Mr Matadigo, a serving police officer, to incoming shipments.
The court heard that the operation unravelled at the Fiji Airways cargo area at Nadi International Airport.
The informant told the court that he watched from a vehicle with his children while his cousin and Mr Matadigo retrieved the consignment, only to see officers grab his cousin by the collar. Refusing to disembark until senior officers arrived, the informant was arrested that afternoon and taken to Suva.
The court heard that he felt betrayed and used by police, recalling his distress as his children were taken away.
Earlier, the informant’s cousin testified he carried the box outside without knowing its contents before officers arrested him.
Justice Aluthge extended bail for all three accused, adjourning proceedings to allow Mr Phabian’s lawyer Unaisi Baleilevuka to cross-examine the informant.
Chukwuemeka Phabian at the High Court in Lautoka on Monday this week. Picture: SALOTE QALUBAU
