Former police officer jailed for road death [1]
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 20:39
A former police officer Vilisoni Finau (51) was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment after being found guilty of reckless driving causing death of a male driver last year.
Lord Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen sentenced the prisoner on May 31 at the Supreme Court.
He said on the evening of June 1, 2018 Finau drove his vehicle in an intoxicated state and at high speed over a roundabout at the intersection of Vaha’akolo Road and Mateialona Road.
Finau collided with a vehicle driven by Tou’anga Ma’a Tonga Kamea, the victim.
Kamea who suffered serious injuries from the crash was declared dead upon arrival at Vaiola Hospital.
Finau who was found guilty on May 3 was revealed to have attended social functions, drunk alcohol and became highly intoxicated before the crash.
The Chief Justice said, Finau who had no previous conviction, came from a stable background, completed his education and then entered the Police, where he served for over twenty years.
"He was dismissed from the Police due to this offending and now works as a taxi driver."
He sentenced Finau to four years three months but suspended the final 12 months on conditions that Finau is not to commit any offences during suspension and shall not to consume alcohol or any illicit drug during suspension, among other orders.
In addition, the Chief Justice disqualified his driver's licence and disqualified him from obtaining one for three years from the date of his sentencing.