Two drugs dealers jailed [1]
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - 20:12
Viliami Wight (27) and Samiuela Mahina (22) have been jailed for possession of 6.8 grams and 1.14 grams of methamphetamine respectively, seized at a residence in Veitongo by Tonga Police, who suspected their drug dealing in 2021.
Hon. Mr Justice Cooper sentenced them on 28 September at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
The court heard on 23 December 2021, Police received information regarding suspected drug dealing going in the home of William Wight at Veitongo. Police officers from the Tactical Response Group and Drug Enforcement Officers attended to this address.
The judge said the Tactical Response officers were just arriving there and about to effect entry, when both Wight and Mahina came through the door and fled. Both the defendants were caught and a straw was recovered from the ground on the spot where Wight had been apprehended.
The police used a trained tracker dog to search the property.
“Two rooms were identified as being of interest. From the first room was recovered from a table top: a glasses case that had inside it a glass test tube, clearly used for smoking, packets of suspected methamphetamine and a plastic scoop made to load quantities of drugs into smoking apparatus.
“A smaller black case contained three packets of suspected methamphetamine. There was also a bag found containing 90 empty unused snap bags, the kind used to store the suspected methamphetamine in. Two other such bags, seemingly once used to store drugs were recovered next to those other items.
“Loose cash totalling $217.20 was also found as well as a wallet containing both $735 and Mr. Wight's National Identification Document.
“Mr. Wight on being asked said that all those items were his. He also explained both he and Mr. Mahina lived in this room.
“In that same room on a smaller table was found one packet of suspected methamphetamine, an orange bag held five empty snap packs. Another container with a quantity of snap packs, two weighing scales at least one of which was digital were seized. Another straw devised to be used to scoop drugs into a smoking device was found.
Wight identified all these items as his own.
Meawhile, a black Fila pouch was found in this same room containing two packets of suspected methamphetamine a single packet that had within it six packs of suspected methamphetamine and a straw/scoop device. The defenadant, Mahina admitted those belonged to him.
Other cash and drugs utensils were also found. While a search of Mr. Wight's car and secreted inside the air conditioning control and also within a further glasses cases, were both one and a further five packets of suspected methamphetamine.
All the suspected methamphetamine tested positive.
The judge said the drugs that Wight admitted were his, totalled at 6.8 grams, and those that Mahina admitted were his, was 1.14 grams. While, the utensils that Wight was charged with totalled four straws, three scales, a test tube and 112 empty snap dealer bags.
They pleaded guilty to all counts.
“The aggravating features of this case was the commercial drug dealing, albeit on a small-scale and concealing drugs in his vehicle. Mitigating factors, included their previous good character, cooperated with police, albeit limited, and their early guilty plea.”
Drug dealing
In the pre-sentence report, Wight admitted to the probation officer that he had been selling drugs for 'a few months' prior to his arrest and it was to gain financial stability and to pay off debts.
His father ran the golf club in Veitongo and upon his death, he took it over as well as a farm. Drug dealing was entirely as a way of making money, he said.
Meanwhile, the probation report stated, that teh defendant Mahina used the money he made from drug dealing to provide for daily necessities.
He regretted the offences and, like Mr. Wight, was said to be sincerely remorseful.
The judge said in Mr. Wight's case, he was someone who at the time held down two jobs, mechanic and farmer, now three with his ownership of the golf course.
"In the absence of a single piece of proof by the defence I totally reject that this drug dealing was in some way out of necessity to get out of debt. This was cynical and exploitative. He was content to ruin people's lives to enhance his with the money it bought him, perhaps, some deluded sense of status."
For Mr. Mahina, he said that his drug dealing was to provide daily necessities.
“In the absence of any proof by the defence to support this, I reject it entirely,” said the judge.
"This was purely commercial drug dealing and its cynicism and manipulation of others is remorseless. That is what Mr. Mahina was doing and simply to enrich himself."
The judge then sentenced Wight on the two counts of possessing 6.8 g methamphetamine and utensils to three-years two-months imprisonment, with the final six-months suspended for two-years, on conditions.
Mahina was sentenced on the one count of possession to 10-months imprisonment, with the final five-months suspended for two-years on conditions.
All time already spent on remand will count towards these sentences, ordered the judge.