Siosaia Lalakai (27), a soldier with the Tonga Defence Service Brass Band who was charged with the possession of 6.25 grams of marijuana was given a one-year suspended sentence by Justice Warwick Andrew at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning.

The court was told that that on December 13, 2005 the accused was drinking with friends at the Dupincia Nightclub where a friend handed him eight small plastic bags of marijuana, which he put in his pocket.

Afterwards he left for 'Anana where he fell asleep in a car and at 6:00 am while the police were on their routine patrol of the Nuku'alofa area they found him with the drugs.

Justice Warwick Andrew in his sentence suspended the one-year imprisonment term, after accepting that the accused was not the instigator of the crime, and the drugs were not his nor did he use any.

"I accept he is a decent person who has never been in trouble until this incident and I do not think he will reoffend because he has pleaded guilty and is remorseful," said the judge.

The suspended sentence requires Siosiua to remain on good behaviour but if he does reoffend he will then serve his initial sentence delivered by the court.

Justice Warwick added the accused fell into bad company on this particular night and his judgment was affected by his consumption of alcohol.