Fiji's middleweight boxing champion Zulfikar Joy Ali charged with allegedly cultivating an illicit drug has been granted bail by the Lautoka High Court today.
The charge was founded on the alleged discovery of 139 plants of suspected marijuana on a plot some meters from where Joy Ali lives.
High Court Judge Justice Paul Madigan released Ali on cash bail of $1000, placed some conditions including surety in his own recognizance of $1000, to live at a fixed address and not to move from that address without leave of the Court, to report to Nadi Police Station every Saturday and Wednesday between 6.00am and 6.00pm and to surrender all travel documents.
Justice Madigan in his ruling stated that Ali is a boxer renowned in Fiji and his name and distinctive appearance is known in almost every village or community in the country.
However, he stressed that fame leads to no advantage in this Court.
However, the Judge said with that principle of fairness uppermost in his mind, he conceded that his fame can operate on another level.
Judge Madigan said because Ali is famous it is most unlikely that he would be able to hide from due process, should he try to do so as he would be instantly recognized and identified, and immediately apprehended.
Justice Madigan further said that cultivation of illicit drugs is indeed a serious offence and it is more serious than possession of illicit drugs in that it provides a continuous and future supply of the narcotic, thereby increasing the latent risk to the would be consumer.
However, he said the seriousness of the alleged crime is not always a deciding factor in a bail application.
Joy Ali has been ordered to reappear in the Lautoka High Court on the 19th August.
Story by: Roneel Lal
