By Linny Folau
Seven people were found guilty for various charges including possession of 1.62 grams of methamphetamine, 8.27 grams of cannabis as well as arms and ammunition without a license seized during a police operation at a tax allotment in Vaini.
Magistrate Kaufusi in his verdict this week convicted Viliami Lokotui, Malani Hufanga, Siale Talisa, Afeitaulalo Hufanga, Maikolo Hufanga, Mele Fonokalafi and Lopeti Soafa. While, one defendant ‘Uluakimano Lokotui was acquitted.
He stated that Police received information that illicit drugs were being sold from this tax allotment belonging to Siaosi Pole’o and where one of the defendants, Viliami Lokotui was residing with his partner.
The operation was led by the Police Tactical Response Group unit after identifying that there were many people living on this allotment with many vehicles going in and out.
Viliami Lokotui who was charged with possession of 0.57 grams of methamphetamine and one smoking pipe was found guilty on both.
The Magistrate found that the Prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. This included Officer Fifita’s evidence that when they got to the allotment, two other officers when informing those present that they were police prompted Lokotui to run. He chased after him with a lit torch. The defendant was apprehended shortly after.
He stated that a search started at the area, where Viliami apparently threw something out from his bag, and was found to be one pack allegedly methamphetamine and a smoking pipe. The substance was tested and confirmed to be methamphetamine.
In Lokotui’s defence, he stated that this was not his tax allotment where the illicit drugs were found and there were also other people present.
Ammunition and drugs utensils
Malani Hufanga and 'Uluakimano Lokotui were found guilty. They were charged with three counts for possession of 10 .22 ammunition, a .22 rifle, possession of drugs utensils namely, 12 empty packs and two smoking pipes.
The lower court heard from Officer Tonga's evidence that the rifle was confiscated from inside a vehicle where Hufanga was sitting in the driver’s seat. The rifle was by his side.
The people who came in the vehicles were the Hufanga siblings, Malani and Michael with 'Uluakimano. Police asked who brought the rifle and they claimed that it was another person. However, Malani admitted that he came with the rifle and put it in the vehicle. A search was also carried out under the vehicle, where police found a small bag containing methamphetamine and smoking pipe.
After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate convicted the duo.
Meth possession
Mele Fonokalafi and Michael Hufanga who were charged with one count each of possession of 0.17 grams of methamphetamine, they were found guilty.
Officer Fifita stated that during the search where Lokotui ran he found two packs of methamphetamine on the ground. The person closest to the pack was Michael. The other pack was found on the ground just in front of a door to a small house where Fonokalafi was in. The distance between Michel and the pack was 30cm, he stated.
On the other hand, Lopeti Soafa who was charged with the intimidation of police officers when he used a machete to obstruct their duties of carrying out the search was found guilty. The two officers were Tonga and Mafi.
Cannabis and Meth
Afeitaulalo Hufanga who was charged with possession of 8.27 grams of cannabis was found guilty. From Officer Vi’s evidence when he searched the vehicle, in which Afeitaulalo was one the passengers, the officer saw him trying to hide something on the door so he used his torch and saw it was a pack of smokes, which had inside 15 packs of cannabis.
Siale Talisa who was charged with two counts of possessing 1.62 grams of methamphetamine and one smoking pipe was similarly convicted. This was after the Magistrate accepted the evidence of Officer Vi, who stated that it was the defendant who was a front passenger in this blue vehicle, when he threw out a bag. Inside were packs of cannabis and methamphetamine.
The defendants are expected to be sentenced on 25 February.
