Vaha Palei (32) who was found guilty of possessing 20.4 grams of methamphetamine at Te’ekiu in May last year, was remanded for sentencing next month.

Hon. Mr Justice Cato in a verdict delivered on July 9, found the accused guilty on the one count, after a trial from July 1-8 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

The Court heard on May 30, 2018 Police searched a car driven by the accused and located significant amount of methamphetamine. 

Police with a warrant, searched premises that had been occupied by the accused. The property was owned by a third party who had for many years lived overseas.

The search warrant was to enter this property, a residential house, where the accused resided.

The judge said that during the course of the search, which originated as a search for stolen property, the accused was seen to enter an adjacent property belonging to his sister and parked close to the target property. Police drove behind him and searched his car.

The drug was located in two bags, one large and the other smaller, which was seized by Police and taken to New Zealand for testing.

The analysis in the two bags were said to be crystals weighed as 18.8 grams in one bag and from another 1.6 grams, a total of 20.4 grams analyzed as methamphetamine. 

The judge was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the drug related to the same substance seized by Police from this car parked adajent to the accused property of which he was the driver.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was in possession of the drug and was in his control and custody, in the absence of any other explanation for its presence in his car."

The accused will be sentenced on August 9.