Driving drugs seller jailed [1]
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 - 17:34
Siosaia Fifita (33) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for possession of 2.36 grams of methamphetamine and 3.14 grams of cannabis.
He was caught after Tonga Police received information he was driving around Nuku'alofa selling illicit drugs.
Hon. Mr Justice Niu sentenced Fifita on August 24, after he found guilty at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
The offences occured on November 14, 2019 at around 9:00pm, Police received information and located the defendant at the east parking area of Vaiola Hospital in Tofoa.
Police found the defendant standing beside his vehicle talking to another person. His telephone and a small plastic capped bottle fell from him when he was grabbed and put on the ground by Police.
The bottle contained four packs of methamphetamine, later weighed without the cellophane packs and amounted to 2.36 grams.
The defendant told the police officer that he had cannabis in his vehicle, which the Police found and was later weighed and was 3.14 grams.
Also seized were cash amounting to $996 pa’anga and drugs paraphernalia.
The Crown said aggravating factors included the substantial amount of methamphetamine, namely 2.36 grams and the 3.14 grams of cannabis, and the large amount of cash, indicated that the defendant was selling drugs.
"Drugs are a big issue in Tonga," said Justice Niu.
He sentenced Fifita to two-years imprisonment, but with the last nine-months suspended for two-years on conditions.
The Judge agreed with the probation officer that the defendant would benefit from attending and completing the drug awareness course of the Salvation Army.
The illicit drugs and the paraphernalia weere ordered to be destroyed, and the cash seized be forfeited to the Crown.