Meth offender gets to rehabilitate [1]
Friday, May 14, 2021 - 16:01
Sione Tupou received a fully suspended sentence for possession of 0.041gm of methamphetamine. Meanwhile his co-offender and ringleader was jailed this week for possession of a substantial amount of drugs that were seized in their vehicle.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC sentenced Tupou on May 13, after he entered a late guilty plea in April at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
The judge said on May 3, 2019 Police received information that a number of people inside a parked vehicle at Longolongo were smoking illicit drugs.
When police arrived, one of the defendant’s co-accused, Kelikupa Maile who was the driver, tried to drive off but was stopped by police.
So when, the vehicle was searched, police found packets of cannabis and methamphetamine, packets of cannabis seeds, cannabis plant, cannabis residue, test tubes, a weighing scale, cash, utensils for smoking and a gas tank used to make utensils for smoking methamphetamine, he said.
Maile, who pleaded guilty to possession of the methamphetamines and cannabis, had been sentenced to 30-months imprisonment, with the final 12-months suspended for two-years, on conditions.
Meanwhile, this defendant was searched and one packet of what was later tested and identified as 0.041 grams of methamphetamine, was found on him.
The Crown submitted one of the aggravating factors in this case, was even though the defendant was found with a small amount of methamphetamine, he was in the vehicle with Maile who had a substantial amount of illicit drugs.
"On the assumption, borne of the relatively low weight of methamphetamine found on the defendant, that his possession was for personal use only, and that this is his first offence, I consider it appropriate to offer the defendant a chance of rehabilitation."
The Chief Justice said, the defendant is only 29-years-old with no previous convictions.
“While he did not initially co-operate with police, I suspect he and the others may have been influenced by Maile, who is both older, and given the amount of drugs he eventually admitted to owning in the car that day, was the apparent ringleader of the group. I also take into account the defendant’s guilty plea, albeit late, as a sign of remorse and acceptance of responsibility,” he said.
The defendant was sentenced to six-months, fully suspended for one-year, on conditions that includes completing a course on alcohol and drug awareness and carrying out 80-hours of community service.
“Failure to comply with the above conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, in which case, the defendant will be required to serve the term of imprisonment.”