Kolonga couple guilty of drugs offences sentenced [1]
Monday, September 20, 2021 - 17:26
‘Isileli and wife Sofia Tu’ifua have been sentenced to six-months imprisonment each, after being convicted on joint counts of possessing methamphetamine and cannabis.
Hon Mr Justice Cooper sentenced the defendants both aged 27 years, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court earlier this month.
This was after they pleaded guilty to three joint counts on possession of 0.06 grams methamphetamine, 0.03 grams methamphetamine and 0.58 grams of cannabis.
Their arrest and the recovery of these drugs was on September 25, 2020 when police acted on information and raided the defendants' address in Kolonga.
The judge said upon Police arrival, from outside the property, they saw the hand of a lady discard a packet of what later proved to be methamphetamine out of the window.
They raided the property and recovered a further packet of methamphetamine, and the cannabis as set out in the indictment.
Probation reported the young age of these defendants, their remorse and how they had moved from that area, that environment and broken completely with that criminal behaviour.
“They have both turned their lives around and the Town Officer spoke highly of those efforts and their will to change and turn a new page. Both were of previous good characters.
“In addition, the defendants have three young children and despite this lapse, albeit a serious one, they have carved an honest life for themselves in the intervening months,” said the report.
The judge then concluded six-months' imprisonment was he right sentence for each.
This was fully suspended for two-years on conditions that they complete a drugs awareness and life skills course; neither commits any imprisonable offence and must complete 80-hours voluntary community work
The money was forfeited, the drugs and paraphernalia forfeited and destroyed.