THOSE responsible for the security of exhibits at the High Court in Suva need to make sure the system is more secure in the future, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said.
Mr Rabuka was responding to reports that seven bars of cocaine linked to a high-profile drug case had allegedly gone missing from the High Court exhibit room.
“Well, it tells everybody that it was not secure in the first place or as secure as we thought it was,” Mr Rabuka said.
The disappearance has prompted an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Fiji Police Force.
Meanwhile Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga said he was “deeply concerned” by the reported tampering and disappearance of the cocaine exhibits.
He said a “thorough, rigorous, and completely independent criminal investigation” had been initiated by the CID to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Mr Turaga said the executive would not interfere with, direct or involve itself in operational police inquiries or judicial functions.
“As Minister, I will not be directly involved in the operational timeline or specific directions of this inquiry,” he said.
He said his ministerial oversight would focus on ensuring investigative bodies were properly resourced and that legal processes governing the custody of evidence were upheld.
“The proper handling, security, and management of exhibits held by our courts are sacred institutional responsibilities.”
He said any failure to follow established protocols should be treated seriously and that the public was entitled to transparency and answers.
Mr Turaga said the Ministry of Justice would monitor recommendations arising from the investigation to strengthen court infrastructure, protect public trust and maintain the integrity of the justice system.
