BY ROMINAH FAKA

The trial into the case of two people accused of exporting prohibited drugs commenced on Wednesday this week in Magistrate Court before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

Yesterday prosecution closed its case after calling six witnesses.

The defendants are Etekia Kauai and Beatrice Umea.

Defence informed court yesterday that its clients have opted to remain silent without calling any witness.

The matter was adjourned to February 28 for defence to file its closing submissions. Bail for both accused was extended.

Kauai and Umea are charged jointly with one count of attempting to export a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act. The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It was alleged on June 19, 2019 at the Henderson International Airport, the accused packed eight packets of marijuana inside a speaker in 20cm by 20 cm plastic bags.

It was taken to the airport, where accused Umea was on check-in duty for Solomon Airlines.

It was further alleged that Kauai took the package to Umea and she accepted the package as unaccompanied luggage, but tagged the package to a passenger whom she had already checked in.

When the package went through the screening, suspicious arose, the speaker was unscrewed and the packets of Marijuana were found, before it was loaded onto the flight.

Steward Tonowane acts for the Crown and Jennifer Happilyn for Umea Delilah and Kukura Fagani for Etekia Kauai.

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