Suva lawyer Shazran Abdul Lateef, who has been convicted of possessing 9.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of marijuana at a hotel in Suva in 2019 will be sentenced on Monday.
Magistrate Shageeth Somaratnevfound Lateef guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs on February 3 following a trial.
According to Asenaca Balekatuba’s evidence, she testified that on May 9, 2019, she received a call from Lateef and they proceeded to the hotel.
Lateef carried a briefcase and paid for a room. Inside, he opened the briefcase, removed a plastic container, and from it produced a ziplock bag containing methamphetamine.
While she was in the bathroom, Lateef left and returned with a pipe, which he used to heat the drugs in her presence.
Shortly after, there was another knock and police officers entered the room, where they searched the premises and seized the drugs and container from the counter.
Ms Balekatuba testied that she had known Lateef for two to three years.
He is represented by Lawyer Joji Cakau.
Lateef, who is on bail, will reappear for his sentence hearing on February 23.
