Repeat drug offender, Pangi Puloka (47) was sentenced to three-years one-month imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 6.71 grams methamphetamine, in two separate incidents in 2019-20.

Hon Mr Justice Niu sentenced him on four counts on May 21, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. He was found guilty earlier this year.

On April 19, 2019 at Hofoa the accused was found with methamphetamine weighing 0.2 grams and 1.48 grams of cannabis. He was jointly charged with another man, Faka’osi Katoa.

The other was for possession of 4.34 grams of methamphetamine, and methamphetamine weighing 2.17 grams, seized at Mataki'eua on March 23, 2020.

The accused had accepted that the amount of methamphetamine involved totalled  6.71 grams.

"That is a substantial amount and it only indicates one thing, that you had it for the purpose of supply and sale, although you are not charged and not convicted of supply or sale of the methamphetamine."

The judge said, in this case the accused possessed 1.48 gram of cannabis and 0.2 gram of methamphetamine at Hofoa, and another 4.34 grams and 2.17 grams both of methamphetamine at Mataki'eua.

Probation also said, he had served two-terms of imprisonment each for six-years, for possession of drugs, but had showed no remorse or regret for what he did.

He was therefore not eligible to full or partial suspension of his sentence.

The judge then imprisoned him to three-years one-month on all four offences.

The illicit drugs were ordered to be destroyed.