Shazran Abdul Lateef, a lawyer in Suva, is set to be sentenced on Monday after being convicted of illegally possessing drugs. Lateef was found guilty of holding 9.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of marijuana at a hotel in Suva back in 2019. The verdict was delivered by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne following a trial that concluded on February 3.
The case against Lateef unfolded when Asenaca Balekatuba testified about the events of May 9, 2019. She recounted receiving a phone call from Lateef which led them to a hotel, where Lateef checked into a room while carrying a briefcase. Once inside, he opened the briefcase, retrieved a plastic container, and produced a zip-lock bag containing methamphetamine. Balekatuba detailed how Lateef, after leaving the room briefly, returned with a pipe and began heating the drugs in her presence.
The situation escalated when police officials entered the hotel room shortly after and conducted a search, seizing the drugs and the container from the counter. Balekatuba noted her acquaintance with Lateef, stating they had known each other for two to three years.
Currently out on bail, Lateef will return to court for his sentencing hearing on February 25. This case underscores the ongoing issues surrounding drug possession and the legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in such activities. The legal community continues to monitor developments in similar cases, highlighting the need for ongoing discussions about drug-related offenses and their implications for professionals in the field.
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