The Court of Appeal has overturned the conviction of Acura Qaranivalu, who had been serving a 12-year prison sentence for the unlawful cultivation of marijuana. In 2017, Qaranivalu was found guilty of growing 32 marijuana plants at Vuravu farm in Daku Village, which weighed a total of 11.0 kilograms. His conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on January 3, 2012.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of his trial, Qaranivalu lodged an appeal challenging both his conviction and the severity of his sentence. The Appeal Justices, Isikeli Mataitoga, Alipate Qetaki, and Gus Andrée Wiltens, reviewed the case and determined that the evidence against Qaranivalu was inadequate, and that there were significant inconsistencies regarding key aspects of the charges.
The justices concluded that the original guilty verdict was unreasonable and lacked sufficient evidentiary support, ultimately ordering that Qaranivalu’s conviction be quashed on November 28. This landmark decision highlights the importance of robust evidence in criminal proceedings and underscores the appellate court’s role in ensuring that justice is served fairly.
With the acquittal, Qaranivalu now has the opportunity to rebuild his life after several years of incarceration, a reminder that the judicial system can correct its past errors to support the principles of justice.
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