SUVA – The Fiji Court of Appeal today rejected the bail appeal for an Indian national, Muskan Balaggan. Balaggan had appealed decisions of Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Madigan.
She was arrested in Nadi earlier this year after a suitcase containing one half kilogram of cocaine was allegedly found in her possession.
The court believes Balaggan is a flight risk as she is a transiting visitor to Fiji. The judges highlighted that the maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment in Fiji.
Justice William Marshall, Justice Kankani Chitrasiri and Justice Sriskandarajah ruled today that Balaggan be remanded in custody until her trial or until further orders.
The Court ordered that Balaggan is granted leave to appeal in these matters.
She has another case for allegedly giving false information to police about her lawyer Rajendra Chaudhary.
