THE trial of seven men accused in the importation and possession of 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine entered its second day in the High Court in Lautoka yesterday with the state and defence continuing the cross-examination of key state witnesses.
Justin Ho, David Heritage, Louie Logaivau, Ratu Aporosa Davelevu, Jale Aukerea, Ratu Osea Levula and Viliame Colowaliku face charges of importation and possession of 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine between November 2023 and January 2024.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku and co-counsel Joeli Naivalu appeared for the State.
Apenai Turaganikeli, brother-in-law of accused David Heritage, was the first witness to be cross-examined by Mr Heritage’s lawyer Litiana Volau yesterday.
Mr Turaganikeli was also on board the barge during the alleged illegal trips and had worked for Mr Heritage from 2023 to 2024.
Ms Volau questioned the arrival times of the boat, the waiting period, the dates the group had travelled to the second location, their arrival and departure times to and from the Musket Cove Resort as well as the booking availability of the barge.
She put it to Mr Turaganikeli that Mr Heritage did not give the boat captain any coordinates to which the witness said he did not know.
Ms Volau told Mr Turagakeili that Justin Ho introduced a Russian national to Mr Heritage and they had a two-hour conversation, however, the Russian national spoke very little English. Mr Turaganikeli agreed but indicated he could not hear the conversation.
She also put to him that Mr Heritage was reluctant to make the third trip and that Mr Ho and a Russian national put pressure on him to book the barge. Mr Turaganikeli responded, saying he did not know.
Mr Turaganikeli told the court Mr Ho told Mr Heritage that the Russian man would accompany them and that he took a photograph of Mr Heritage’s number plate and vehicle.
The court heard that after discussions between the three, the third trip was made, however, Mr Heritage did not board the boat and that the Russian national carried a small bag with him.
Ms Volau told Mr Turaganikeli the yacht was located after the coordinates were given by the Russian national. Mr Turaganikeli agreed.
Mr Turaganikeli also agreed when Ms Volau put it to him that he witnessed the Russian national and two other men on the yacht conversing in a foreign language and that he spoke in a commanding tone as if he were the boss ordering his workers.
The court heard that Mr Turaganikeli had a clear view of the communication between Mr Ho and the Russian national near the vehicle after which Mr Heritage greeted them.
Mr Ho’s lawyer Samuela Heritage put it to Mr Turaganikeli that David Heritage returned with his Land Cruiser after the alleged consignment was delivered. It was put to Mr Turaganikeli that Mr Heritage told him to paint a warehouse which was beside the carwash Sub Zero, and Mr Turaganikeli agreed.
Mr Rabuku then cross-examined Mr Turaganikeli and asked whether he was able to see the workshop from the location where David’s Marine Repairs was located. Mr Turaganikeli responded by saying he could.
Mr Turaganikelil told the court Mr Ho owned the warehouse and that the carwash and the warehouse were adjoined, sharing the same driveway and that Mr Ho stayed upstairs
Mr Samuela Heritage told the court he did not mention who owned the warehouse when questioning Mr Turaganikeli, and Mr Rabuku told the court the defence was trying to deflect who owned the warehouse.
Mr Rabuku cross-examined Lepani Biudole next.
The court heard Mr Biudole worked at Sub Zero carwash while studying at FNU from October 2022 to December 2023.
Mr Biudole told the court the warehouse had three apartments; Mr Ho rented the first, the second apartment was rented by PSG Electric and the third by Western Facilities Management (WFM). A barbershop named Crew Cuts owned by Mr Ho is also located there.
Mr Rabuku asked Mr Biudole when he stopped working at the Sub Zero carwash and who had told him to stop working there, Mr Biudole responded that Mr Logaivau told him to stop working for the car wash in 2023. He also told the court the carwash had closed down.
Mr Rabuku asked him when Mr Logaivau told him to go to the Bula Bus yard and Mr Biudole told the court the two had a conversation in front of the Sub Zero carwash. The two then travelled to the yard and stopped at the warehouse behind the yard, and it was titled David’s Marine Repairs.
The court heard Mr Biudole saw containers inside big white plastic bags outside David’s Marine Repairs.
Mr Rabuku asked Mr Biudole to describe what he saw. In response, Mr Biudole said he saw big containers wrapped in blue, red and black tape and that he and Mr Logaivau tore the plastics and moved them into David’s Marine Repairs office.
The court heard the two separated the containers in the David’s Marine Repairs office. They moved the contents of seven plastic bags into the office from 1pm to 10pm and nine plastic bags were left with containers inside.
Mr Biudole told the court the remaining nine plastic bags were left outside the office.
Mr Rabuku questioned whether Mr Biudole saw what was inside at any point and how he had seen the contents of the bags. Mr Biudole replied some of the container lids were damaged and that he saw white crystals. He felt scared because it was the first time he had seen these crystals.
Mr Biudole told the court he asked Mr Logaivau what they were and Mr Logaivau said they were meth.
The two stopped loading the containers into the office as it was full. Mr Logaivau then locked the office and the two went to Justin Ho’s living room located in his apartment in the warehouse.
Mr Biudole said Mr Logaivau told him to look after the warehouse as no one else was there. Mr Logaivau then left with Mr Ho.
He slept in the warehouse and the next morning Mr Logaivau suggested they go to David’s Marine Repairs.
Mr Biudole told the court the two did a stocktake, taking a break after lunch. They then rested at the Sub Zero carwash warehouse. They returned to David’s Marine Repairs after 1pm to continue stock taking for more than an hour until 3pm
The court heard the nine white plastic bags were still outside the office after Mr Biudole and Mr Logaivau completed the stock taking for the first lot of plastic bags.
Mr Rabuku asked Mr Biudole whether he told the police about this stock-take. He responded that he did not.
The court heard the two rested at the warehouse then returned to David’s Marine Repairs at 6.30pm.
Mr Rabuku asked Mr Biudole if a hired truck was there and what was loaded on to it. Mr Biudole responded by confirming the truck had arrived at the location and that the remaining nine plastic bags were loaded on to it by a crane which lifted and placed them in the truck.
Mr Biudole said he and Mr Logaivau then went ahead to the warehouse. Upon arrival, the nine bags were unloaded at the second warehouse located in front of the first warehouse. After offloading these nine bags, they went to load the remaining bags.
The court heard the containers similar to those loaded at David’s Marine Repairs were in these bags.
The trial continues today.
