Tupou Saulala Haupeakui (27) was sentenced today to nine-months imprisonment for possessing 0.46 gram of methamphetamine, seized at Kolomotu'a in 2020.

Hon Mr Justice Niu suspended the sentence for two-years on condtions, after he pleaded guilty in March this year.

On July 23, 2020 Police received information that the accused was selling illicit drugs from a rental vehicle he was using.

Police found him in that vehicle on a road in Kolomotu'a. When the accused got out of the vehicle, a bottle fell out. He told police that there was drugs inside the bottle, four packs of meth inside the bottle, said the judge.

The meth was confirmed and weighed to total at 0.46 grams. 

Probation said the accused was teacher at 'Apifo'ou College up until he committed this offence. He now teaches temporarily at St. Andrew's School this year, pending the outcome of his sentence for this offence.

The judge said, “the makers and suppliers and dealers of the drugs know that they are the ones collecting and living comfortably on the monies that the enslaved users pay them to have the drugs. 

"They may be young and foolish, persons like you, to sell the drugs for them. You accept because of the lure of money, and this is where you end up, here in court facing imprisonment for doing that."

He also accepted that what he was doing, although the facts made no mention of any sum of money found on him when the police searched him and the vehicle, the amount of 0.46 gm of meth, in four packs of meth was clearly for the purpose of sale and not for your own consumption, he said.

However, the accused was not charged with selling or supplying. He was only charged with possessing, which he pleaded guilty and have been convicted of.

"I accept that you are remorseful and repentant and that you have made a change to your life since you were caught in July last year. You have now devoted your life to only your family. I also accept that you have severed your relationship with the persons with whom you had associated."

The judge then sentenced him to nine-months imprisonment, fully suspended on conditions, that he completes 50-hours community service, attend a drug awareness course, among others.

The Police were ordered to destroy the methamphetamine.