He pleaded guilty to possession of 0.24 gram of methamphetamine in 2019, and in 2020 possessed 27.49 grams of methamphetamine and 
196.53 grams of cannabis.

On 20 February 2019, Police searched the home of Similati Tupou’s at Pahu, when the defendant arrived in his vehicle. Police searched him and his vehicle and found 10 packets of methamphetamines weighing 0.24 grams, $165 in cash and test tubes. 

On 6 January 2020, the Drugs Enforcement Taskforce searched the defendant's residence and vehicle in Vaini. They found one dark plastic bag containing 27.49g of methamphetamine, one tick book containing entries and $3,218 in cash.

Inside his house, police found a black bag containing 27 packs of cannabis totaling 196.53 grams together with a red book containing names, two test tubes, empty plastic packets, a black weighing scale, a black external drive and a pipe.

The defendant is reported to operate his own businesses, which he described to the probation officer as tyre repair and maintenance and ‘Food Freezing Container’.

The Chief Justice said in order for the courts to send a message for deterrence of drug offending, it ensures that sentences imposed…are adequate and effective in denouncing and punishing such crimes, provide a strong deterrent effect, not just for individual offenders but also for the general community and those who may contemplate succumbing to the toxic allure of illegal drugs and also to provide incentive and opportunity for rehabilitation of offenders.

“The defendant's eligibility for any discounts in mitigation is limited. He does not have a clean record, as he has a prior conviction for possession of illicit drugs, in 2004. Further, he chose to plead guilty quite late in the proceedings,” he said.

He sentenced him to four-and a half-years, with the final 18-months of the head sentence suspended for two-years, on conditions.

The illicit drugs are to be destroyed with the cash and other items seized forfeited to the Crown. 

Failure to comply with any of the conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, and the defendant will be required to serve the balance of his prison sentence, said the Chief Justice.