Drug offender who offered bribes to police, jailed

Drug offender who offered bribes to police, jailed [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, May 10, 2021 - 18:09

‘Epuefi Laimani was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for possession of 5.15gms of methamphetamine, 3.59gms of cannabis, while offering cash as bribes to a police officer.

Hon Mr Justice Cooper sentenced him on May 3 on four counts, including two for offering brib, after a trial at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

The offending was on the afternoon of October 10, 2018 when police seized the illicit drugs from the defendant, who was sitting inside his car, opposite the Tanoa Hotel on Vuna Road.

Detective Fifiita, a Crown witness said he was in an unmarked police car with two other officers, driving east on Vuna Road, when he saw the defendant sitting in the rear passenger seat of his car.

He recognised the defendant from a previous drugs search. The police officers drove in behind the defendant's car to block him in.

The detective got out and went to the driver's side door of the defendant's vehicle, and asked what he was doing, the defendant then produced a $50 note and handed over to the detective, who denied his bribe.

The defendant again reached under the steering wheel to a compartment and produced an amount of cash including $100 and $50 notes. He grabbed the officer's hand and tried to push the notes into it.

Police then found the illicit drugs in a can that the defendant had in the car. Inside were 14 packets of methamphetamine and 8 packets of cannabis.

This was in addition to $390 in cash, which was discovered from the car. The defendant denied having any knowledge of the illict drugs.

Selling drugs

The judge said the defendant was convicted due to the overwhelming evidence against him.

He said on two occasions en route, the defendant had asked the officers to stop at a BSP ATM so that he could give them $3,000 each. He was taken straight to the police station.

“The evidence painted the clearest picture of someone who was dealing drugs, serving them up to customers outside the Tanoa Hotel in Nuku'alofa, who would drive up to meet him parked in his car in the parking area by the wharf,” he said.

“Detective Fifita gave evidence that there was of a line of vehicles parked next to his, each with someone inside and that the defendant had all the drugs ready to sell in dealer bags ,14 methamphetamine and 8 cannabis, makes the reality of the situation undeniable.

"He may have been in possession of the drugs but in the circumstances it is clear that it was possession with intent to supply them, and that was what he was doing.  It would be a significant weapon in the prosecution of these offences if there were the ability to lay that charge."

He then sentenced the accused to five and a half years imprisonment but with the last six months suspended for two-years, on conditions.

The drugs and any paraphernalia to be destroyed and the money forfeited, ordered the judge.

Tonga [2]

Illicit Drugs [3]

cannabis [4]

Nuku'alofa Supreme Court [5]

Hon Mr Justice Cooper [6]

From the Courts [7]