A 30-year-old man, arrested and charged by police for his involvement in the cultivation of marijuana worth close to $1 million, was denied bail by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.
He appeared before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili in a special court sitting.
The accused, Netani Luke, was arrested by police during a drug raid near Rakiraki Village, in Yale, Kadavu on October 11, in which 130kg of marijuana was seized.
Police prosecutor Inspector Josua Shaw objected to bail, adding the matter was a serious crime and was of public interest.
Mr Ratuvili ordered the accused to present a surety during his bail hearing on October 22.
In his defence, Mr Luke sought bail as he was yet to be vaccinated but the court saw his vaccination status as a non-issue during bail proceedings as special arrangements could be made.