The Fiji Court of Appeal has overturned the conviction of Acura Qaranivalu, who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the unlawful cultivation of marijuana in 2017. This significant ruling was issued on November 28, 2025, by President Justice Isikeli Mataitoga along with Justices Alipate Qetaki and Gus Andrée Wiltens.
Qaranivalu faced charges for cultivating 32 cannabis plants weighing a total of 11 kilograms at his farm in Daku Village, Kadavu, on January 3, 2012. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, pleading not guilty before the Suva High Court, which ultimately convicted him and set a non-parole period of 10 years.
Initially, Qaranivalu attempted to appeal both his conviction and sentence but was denied the opportunity to challenge the conviction in 2020. However, he was allowed to appeal the sentence. The appeal concentrated on two crucial points: the perceived unreasonableness of the verdict accentuated by gaps in the prosecution’s evidence, and the disputed admissibility of Qaranivalu’s caution interview, which lacked pertinent details specifically pertaining to the charged plants or the date of the offense.
In its ruling, the Appeal Court determined that the trial judge did not adequately direct assessors on the significance of the evidence presented. They concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. As a result, the Court of Appeal declared the verdict unreasonable and unsupported by sufficient evidence, leading to the quashing of Qaranivalu’s conviction and his acquittal.
This case underscores the importance of thorough evidence evaluation in legal proceedings and affirms the principles of justice, ensuring that convictions are based on solid grounds.
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