Maka Latu (35) was sentenced today to eight-years imprisonment for 16 offences, that included possession of 50.22 grams of methamphetamine committed in a serious of incidents from 2019 to earlier this year.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC sentenced him at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, after pleading guilty to the offences.

One of the aggravating factors was the substantial amount of methamphetamines, a 
Class A drug, which indicated he was a supplier, the Prosecution said in this case.

The Chief Justice said on November 15, 2019 Police received information that the defendant was selling drugs from his car at his home in Mataika.

When Police arrived and informed him why they were there, he turned his car towards the officers to run them over. As a result, Police fired several shots at the moving vehicle but the defendant did not stop.

The defendant then drove his vehicle over the foot of one officer. Another officer shot the tyres of the vehicle causing it to crash into a fence. A search of the vehicle revealed a black bottle containing some of the drugs and a small bag beside the fence had the others.

He was found in possession of 1.49 grams of cannabis; 
50.22 grams of methamphetamine, two rounds of .38 ammunition without a licence, failed to comply with the request of a police officer, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Continuous arrests

On August 21, 2020 police charged him for possession of 0.4 grams of methamphetamine, 
interfering with evidence and 
possession of 2.71 grams of cannabis, seized during a search by Police of his home.

The Chief Justice said, the defendant tried to escape to a neighbouring house and when apprehended, he put something in his mouth.

He later spat out six dealer bags onto the ground. Upon examination, there appeared to be some suspected methamphetamine left in one of the bags. In addition, he asked for a closer look and then tried to bite the bag but was prevented from doing so by police, he said.

Home search

On December 8 2020, Police carried out another search at his home.

Again, when the Police arrived, the defendant ran and was seen putting something in his mouth which what was later found to be a pack of cannabis.He also used his head to smash a test-tube that was in front of him. Police found weighing scales, empty dealer packets and smoking utensils, he said.

The defendant was charged with failure to comply with a lawful request of police officer, 
destruction of evidence and 
possession of utensils.

His recent offence was on March 31, this year when Police executed a warrant for his arrest (for failing to turn up to court).

The defendant was found in a room, at Noah's Guesthouse. He was lying face down and had put a plastic pack inside his mouth. Police managed to retrieve the pack although most of it was destroyed.

He was charged with possession of 7.87 grams of methamphetamine, 1.09 grams of cannabis, drug utensils and attempting to destroy evidence.

Extensive criminality

The defendant had an extensive criminal history that convictions on armed robbery, housebreaking, possession of illicit drugs and manslaughter.

“What was of great concern is the defendant's unenviable criminal record of serious offending. He was given opportunities for rehabilitation in three of those sentences by partial suspension. Not only did he not take advantage of those opportunities, he went on to diversify his penchant for serious crime by succumbing to and exploiting illicit drugs,” said the Chief Justice.

"In my view, those who import, manufacture, distribute or supply illicit drugs are currently one of the greatest threats to the physical, mental and spiritual health of the people of Tonga and its social fabric and cohesion."

“Therefore, although it is incumbent on the Courts to seek to fulfill all the objectives of sentencing, in cases such as the present, the protection of the community and deterrence weigh heavily in that balance,” he said.

The Chief Justice then sentenced Latu to eight-years imprisonment.

The sentence was also backdated to when he was detained in police custody.

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

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