The Nausori Magistrate’s Court acquitted Samuela Bisa Vakaca and Apisalome Matetani of illicit drug possession.[1] The judgment concluded the criminal case involving Samuela Bisa Vakaca, Tevita Ramana, Apisalome Matetani and Unaisi Lewamoce.[1] Tevita Ramana and Unaisi Lewamoce entered guilty pleas and were dealt with by the court, while Vakaca and Matetani maintained their innocence.[1]
All four were initially charged with one count of being found in possession of illicit drugs following a snap police roadblock at Manoca, Nausori on December 6, 2024.[1] Police searched a hybrid vehicle driven by Matetani during the operation.[1] Police discovered 14 branches of marijuana wrapped inside a baby’s onesie suit on the back left passenger seat.[1]
The prosecution relied on Section 32 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act, which presumes any illicit drug found inside a vehicle is in the possession of the person controlling the vehicle.[1] Matetani called Ramana as a defence witness and Ramana testified that the marijuana belonged entirely to him and that Matetani was merely the driver.[1] Prosecution witnesses confirmed that the drugs were located directly adjacent to Ramana’s seating position in the back seat.[1] Magistrate Vaniqi held that Matetani successfully rebutted the statutory presumption of possession, calling him just the driver caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.[1] Applying the same rationale to Vakaca, who was also a passenger, the court found both Vakaca and Matetani not guilty and acquitted them accordingly.[1]
