A POLICEMAN charged with theft and interfering with evidence was denied bail by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.
Kaipati Bukoa, a detective constable at the Nabua Police Stations Crime Department, is alleged to have stolen marijuana held at the station as part of court exhibits.
State lawyer Pita Bulamainaivalu had provided Mr Bukoa with his caution interview and admissions but has yet to serve him with full disclosures.
Mr Bulamainaivalu objected to bail, saying Mr Bukoa could interfere with State witnesses and because he could engage legal counsel while in custody.
When asked if he had anything to say about bail, Mr Bukoa said there was a conspiracy against him and that the charges and allegations were purely racist.
He said he was a witness to the cocaine theft at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters at Toorak in Suva and the marijuana theft from the Nabua Police Station that he was being charged for.
Mr Bukoa claimed the marijuana had been smuggled out of the Nabua Police Station by prisoners housed in the stations cell blocks and that the station officer had also been aware of it.
He said he had observed this for some time before searching a prisoner he was escorting to court and discovering marijuana hidden on this person.
When redirected to the issue of bail, Mr Bukoa said he had a Nepalese wife and two children who were in danger of being evicted from the police quarters they were occupying.
He assured the court he would abide by any condition set for his bail. However, Magistrate Yohan Liyange refused bail and ordered Mr Bukoa to reapply.
He has been further remanded in custody until June 18.