The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions says immunity offered to those accused in the Vatia $3 billion cocaine bust is conditional and each accused person and their counsel know what the conditions are.
Immunity has been granted to Munendra, Iliesa Cokanasiga, Jonathan Pedro Hill, Sunia Cama and Travis Cheer.
Charges against Munedra has been withdrawn while it is yet to be withdrawn against the four others.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, the ODPP says if the conditions are not met, it is open to the State to relay charges against these accused persons.
They are yet to confirm what the conditions are.
However it is understood that those given immunity will give evidence for the State.
The Office says it is important to understand that immunity decisions are not made lightly and are based on their long standing processes of analysis.
They say immunity is granted after a full assessment of the evidence the Police have gathered from their investigations.
The ODPP says a formal analysis is made by the Office as to the strength of the prosecution evidence on each accused person in each file and collectively against the group in instances where it is alleged that the offence was committed jointly.
They say immunity can be granted to an accused if the State is of the view that there is insufficient evidence to secure a conviction against that accused but nevertheless the accused is able to still provide useful evidence against some other accused or accused persons at trial.
The ODPP says immunity can also be granted by the State if the State is of the view that there is sufficient evidence against an accused person but the accused person is a small player in the criminal enterprise.
They say the immunity in that instance is offered to the smaller player in the group in exchange for their evidence against the other bigger offenders in the group.
The ODPP adds in that way, the evidence against the leaders or the bigger players are strengthened.
23-year-old Anaseini Lisa Kinikinilau Rokolati has been granted bail under strict conditions.
24-year-old Bainivalu Suguturaga is charged with one count of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs, and one count of serious assault.
Also included are 39-year-old Ponipate Mateyawa, 49-year-old John Taotala from New Zealand, and 33-year-old Merewalesi Qolimaiwasa case who are all charged with a count of conspiracy to commit importation of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that between 1st November, 2025 and 15th January, 2026, in and around Fiji, the five accused conspired amongst themselves and with others to unlawfully import, transport, transfer and store 2644 kg of illicit drugs.
Taotala has been charged with two counts of possession of items believed to be proceeds of crime.
Hill and Qolimaiwasa have each been charged with a count of possession of items believed to be proceeds of crime.
46-year-old Manasa Saladrau of Waiyavi, Lautoka; 42-year-old self-employed Norman Fisher of Vuda, Lautoka; 36-year-old self-employed Sunia Kobululevu of Nanuya Street, Lautoka; and 23-year-old Anaseini Lisa Kinikinilau Rokolati, an Australian citizen, are charged with conspiracy to commit the unlawful importation of illicit drugs.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Kobululevu has been charged with criminal intimidation.
Saladrau and Rokolati have also been charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
Saladrau is further charged with destroying evidence.
