Christopher Ta'ufo'ou (30) was sentenced to two-years and three-months imprisonment after being convicted of possessing 635.54 grams of cannabis, seized at a home in Malapo on March 17, 2017.

Hon. Mr Justice Cato during sentencing, on December 17 at the Supreme Court, said the prisoner was originally charged with two counts of possessing the illicit drug, cannabis and possessing a 22.22 caliber long rifle with live ammunition without a license.

On July 14, 2017 Ta'ufo'ou orginally pleaded not guilty to both counts, but shortly before trial on November 19 this year, he pleaded guilty to count one.

The judge was informed that in exchange the Crown withdrew a charge of possession against his wife and offered no evidence on his count two.

The court heard the prisoner had in possession a substantial amount of cannabis, totaling 635.54 grams.

This comprised one bag containing cannabis found on the front lawn, one cannabis branch with leaves found in the living room, one bag with cannabis seeds found in the first bedroom; three bundles of cannabis plant branches found in the ceiling and four cannabis branches also found in the ceiling.

Also located, were seven bags containing small plastic bags suitable for packaging small amounts of cannabis.

The judge said, the prisoner comes from a large family of 14 siblings, is married with four children, and the breadwinner working in construction and plantation work. He also has a family plantation.

“The prisoner asserted in his probation report that the cannabis was for personal use and it is suggested friends would gather also and some used marijuana. He has previous convictions, one for housebreaking in 2005 and a trespass in 2012, but nothing for drug offending,” he said.

"Although not a first offender, this is the prisoner's first conviction for drugs and I take this into account his guilty plea was not a timely plea being on the point of trial, but I take into account that the Crown withdrew a second charge of possession of ammunition and a charge of what would have amounted to joint possession against his wife, also at this late stage."

The judge then suspended the final 12-months of his sentence on conditions due to his guilty plea and expression of remorse.

The sentence was backdated to when he was remanded in custody.