Retrial of 14kg marijuana case starts today [1]
Monday, March 5, 2007 - 17:36. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 11:58.
Siaosi Kadivuka Amanoni and Semi Vete Jr. pleaded not guilty at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today to charges relating to the import of 14 kilograms of marijuana to Tonga from Fiji in 2003.
Siaosi Amanoni of Ngele'ia is charged with the importation of marijuana and Semi Vete Jr. of 'Anana is charged with abetment to the importation of marijuana to Tonga.
This trial was first heard before by a jury, presided over by former Chief Justice Robin Webster in February 2006 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. A new trial was ordered to be held before a new judge and jury after one of the crown's witnesses gave damaging evidence against the accused Semi Vete Jr. The former chief justice concluded last February that it would be unfair on the defendant for the trial to continue being heard before the same jury.
A new trial is being heard today March 5, by a new jury and a new judge, Mr Justice Laurenson.
Siaosi Amanoni is represented in court by his legal counsel, Sifa Tu'utafaiva while Semi Vete Jr. is represented by Nalesoni Tupou.
Crown's prosecutor 'Aminiasi Kefu outlined the case for the prosecution. He said that it was alleged that between June to July 2003 Siaosi Amanoni unlawfully imported the illicit drug Indian hemp commonly known as marijuana into the Kingdom of Tonga from Fiji. The accused was said to have been in Fiji at the time and packed the marijuana into one suitcase and four tins of breakfast crackers, then loaded them on the MV Fangaafa, a ferry that was returning to Tonga from Fiji. The shipment was addressed to Joe Ramanlal Jr. whose mother is one of the owners of the ferry.
Semi Vete Jr. is alleged to have known all along that Siaosi was importing marijuana to Tonga, because he was at the Fua'amotu International Airport to meet him when he arrived back in the country on July 15, 2003. He is also alleged to have made contacts in Tonga to Joe Ramanlal Jr. for the release of the cargo.
The court was told that the Tongan Police were tipped off by their Fijian counterparts about the marijuana shipment, and were waiting at the Nuku'alofa wharf for the arrival of the ferry on July 17, 2003. Upon the arrival of the ferry a woman named Fe'auini Latu was sent by Semi Vete Jr. to collect the shipment from the wharf. The Customs officials who were already aware of the nature of the illegal goods arrested her.
While Fe'auini was in custody with the goods Semi Vete Jr. called her and told her to tell the custom officials to destroy the goods because it did not belong to anyone. Fe'auini was later released but the cargo remained at the wharf for someone to claim. After two days no one came to claim the shipment so the Police picked up the case for investigation. After further investigations the Police got enough evidence and arrested Siaosi Amanoni. The shipment was then scientifically examined by the Ministry of Health, and it was confirmed to be marijuana.
The Crown believed that Joe Ramanlal Jr and Fe'auini had no knowledge of the illicit drugs imported but were only informed that the cargo sent contained electronic goods for Semi Vete Jr.
The trial, which is held before a jury of two women and five men, is expected to run until next week.