By Linny Folau

Siena Li received a suspended sentence for possession of 0.08 grams methamphetamine and smashing a pipe used to smoke drugs, when she was arrested in a car at Ha’ateiho.

Justice Cooper sentenced her to six months imprisonment fully suspended for two years on conditions on 6 August, at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. This was after, she pleaded guilty to the two charges.

The judge stated that Miss Li was arrested in a car outside the Kiwi tyre shop in Ha'ateiho, on 2 March this year at around 3:00am.

She was seen to discard the pipe when police attended the location acting on information. She was searched and the bag of methamphetamine was recovered. She was then arrested, charged and committed to the Supreme Court

On 6 August, she appeared for arraignment and entered her guilty pleas. Miss Li did not wish for a pre-sentence report, rather to be sentenced straight away. She also had a previous conviction, but the Crown made clear that it was not for illicit drugs, though it was not known what the precise nature of the conviction was, stated the judge.

After considering comparable sentences, for count 1 (destruction of evidence), the judge set a starting point of nine months reduced to six. For count 2, he set the same to run concurrent with count 1.

She was then sentenced to six months' imprisonment fully suspended for two years, on conditions that included being placed on probation, must complete a drug rehabilitation course, carrying out 40 hours of community service and must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the drugs and paraphernalia to be forfeited and destroyed, ordered the judge.