SIX people have been identified as persons of interest as police investigate the disappearance of bars of cocaine and the alleged tampering of drug exhibits linked to the Joshua Rahman matter.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said a dedicated investigation team had been established at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters to urgently establish what happened to the exhibits.
The team includes senior investigators from the Major Crime Unit, Digital Forensic Unit, Anti-Money Laundering Unit and Proceeds of Crime Division.
“We have identified six persons of interest, and investigators are in the process of evidence and documentary gathering,” Mr Tudravu said.
He said a financial investigation had also been launched with assistance from the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit.
Police have so far recorded statements from 27 people as investigators work to establish who had direct access to the exhibits.
The discrepancy was discovered during an inspection involving senior judiciary officials, a senior Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions official, the investigating officer and a crime scene investigation officer before a court order for the destruction of the drugs.
Mr Tudravu said an official report was lodged by the investigating officer on September 16 following the discovery of the missing seven bars at Totongo Police Station.
“Since the initial lodgement of the report, the missing seven bars of cocaine at Totongo Police Station on the 16th of September, investigators have been working on piecing together the timelines of events since exhibits were attended in court,” he said.
He said the remaining drug parcels were subsequently tested and returned negative for traces of illicit drugs.
However, police records showed that the drugs originally held in police custody had tested positive for cocaine in February 2019.
A second purity test conducted on July 26, 2019, at the request of the court also returned a positive result.
The exhibits were deposited with the High Court on March 25, 2021.
Mr Tudravu said investigators were now working to establish what happened after the exhibits entered the court process.
The Digital Forensic Unit is examining available CCTV footage and biometric records.
He said police understood calls for more information but stressed that investigators needed time to establish the timeline and gather evidence.
“While I understand that the sense of urgency is demanding quick results, we are doing our best to ensure justice prevails,” Mr Tudravu said.
