1.9kg airport meth trial set for October [1]
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 18:36
The trial against Viliami Mangisi charged in relation to the seizure of 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine at Fua‘amotu International Airport last year is set for October 2019, at the Supreme Court.
The 59-year-old Tongan who holds an American passport, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of possession of Class A drugs (methamphetamine), attempted export of illicit drugs and failure to make declaration to Customs Officer,
The Supreme Court office confirmed today that the trial is set to start on October 24. A pre-trial conference on October 10 will reconfirm the dates.
Mangisi is alleged to have tried to export from Tonga to New Zealand on May 8, 2018, the seized methamphetamine with an estimated street value of around $2 million pa’anga.
Mangisi who lives in Tatakamotonga, remains on bail under strict conditions.