Lautaimi Tu’itavake (34) of Malapo was sentenced to two-years three-months imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, found on him during his arrest in the Nuku'alofa Central Business District in 2018.

The prisoner had pleaded guilty to a first count of possessing an illicit drug, namely one pack of methamphetamine containing 0.3 gram.

He pleaded not guilty to a second count of possessing 191.45 grams of cannabis. But after a one day trial on May 20, he was found guilty and was remanded in custody for sentencing.

Hon Mr Justice Cato on July 19 sentenced the prisoner to a combined sentence of two-years three-months imprisonment, back dated to the date of his remand in custody.

However the final nine months of his sentence was suspended on strict conditions, that included not offending during this period and that he must undergo a course of drug rehabilitation, among other orders. The illicit drugs were ordered to be destroyed.

Drugs 

The Crown’s case was that on May 7, 2018, Police had arrested four boys who were found in possession of cannabis. The information and description by the boys led to this arrest.

These boys had purchased the cannabis from Tu'itavake earlier that day. He had a small bag, from which he had taken out the cannabis and sold it to them.

The Court was told, Police found Tu'itavake at a restaurant in the Central Business District and took him outside.

Police tried to restrain him but he struggled and started shouting and swore at them. Police struggled with him across the road to the parking area at Taumoepeau Building on Fatafehi Road and arrested him.

The Police officers then noticed him trying to put something into his shorts and they grabbed his hand, which contained the small bag as described by the other boys.

Fourteen packs of cannabis and one pack of methamphetamine were found inside the bag, while Tu'itavake at this time, shouted claiming that the bag was not his and that Police put it in his pocket.

He was arrested and taken to the Central Police Station, where $92 pa’anga was found on him.

On the same day, a search warrant was executed at his home in Malapo, where 85 packs of cannabis, cannabis seeds and cannabis leaves were seized.

On May 8, Police found that the 14 packs of cannabis weighted 9.40 grams and the one pack of methamphetamine weighed 0.3 gram. The other cannabis found at his home weighed 182.05 grams.