Third accused in the Nadi massive drug case, Louie Logaivau, told the court that felt like he was threatened by Justin Ho to take part in the transportation of the 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine.

Logaivau told the Lautoka Court that in Dec 23rd 2023, Justin Ho asked him to do something for him, as his life depended on it.

He said when he had asked Ho why was this, Ho told him because some Mafia crew that had already saw Logaivau in his warehouse had threaten to hurt him and his family.

Logaivau told the court this morning that he was working for Justin Ho in his car wash, and he was also living in Ho’s apartment in Denarau, from September 2022 to December 2023.

He claimed that he did everything Ho told him to do because of the threats Ho was telling him of.

Logaivau confirmed that he only found out that what he was loading into a car was drugs when he saw the contents of what was inside.

He says this was at the yard of Bula Bus at Denarau, which was where Justin Ho direct them.

Logaivau added that they moved the drugs from that yard to David Marine Repairs office which is owned by David Heritage.

He says the drugs were later moved to Ho’s warehouse, then loaded into a truck, and transported to Motorex.

Logaivau confirmed that through the instructions given to him by Ho, he guided the truck to Motorex and that was the last time he had ever seen it again.

Logaivau also revealed in court that he was taken from the warehouse by some men that he had never seen before, and thrown into the boot of a car, and then taken to a roundabout in Denarau and moved from that car to another boot of another car.

He says he was then transported to one house in Saweni and locked in a room.

Logaivau told the court that Ho had come the next morning to get him and they went back to the warehouse.

He also confirmed that Ho directed him accompany him to Vanua Levu as they were running away from the Mafia crew.

Logaivau says when they had reached Savusavu, they met up with Jale Aukerea, who was also an accused person in this case.

He says Ho told him that they were leaving for Taveuni.

When asked by his lawyer, Mark Anthony, why he did not report all this to police when he had the chance, Logaivau says, he could not bare the thought of putting his sister in danger, who was the only immediate living relative of his.

During Cross examination, State Counsel Joeli Nasa put to Logaivau that this was all a made up story, Logaivau disagrees.

When Nasa asked why he did not state all this in his caution interview with police, Logaivau told the court that he was not thinking clearly because of things he had gone through.

When it was put to him that he was not threatened at gun point or by a knife, Logaivau agreed that he was not.

Logaivau’s lawyer, also made an application, for him to be excused from court because of his medical condition, as he was finding it hard to walk.

High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge had agreed for him to be excused until the 3rd of July.

The case continues tomorrow in the Lautoka High Court.