Suspended sentence for drugs offender [1]
Monday, October 28, 2024 - 22:01. Updated on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 11:37.
By Linny Folau
Kesomi Taufa (35) received a suspended sentence, on conditions, after being found guilty of possession of 0.03 grams of methamphetamine in Ma’ufanga.
Magistrate Langi convicted him on 25 October, after a trial at the Magistrate’s Court in Fasi. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment fully suspended for two years, on conditions that he must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment, and undertake community work for 40 hours, among other conditions.
The lower court heard from the evidence that the defendant was arrested after he was stopped by a Tonga Police patrol in the Ma'ufanga area after midnight on 1 August, this year.
The patrol drove through Ha’amoko Road and when they were returning to Nuku’alofa they noticed a blue vehicle was parked in the middle of the road, blocking it. The police vehicle turned on its siren and the police officers got off and walked over to this vehicle where they questioned the defendant.
“His answer was not clear and he was talking nonsense and police officers knew that he was intoxicated. PC Tufui then instructed PC Tatafu to handcuff the defendant because he was drunk. The officers also looked for the keys to move the vehicle to the side of the road.
“As PC Tufui went inside to the passenger side of the vehicle he turned on the light inside and he said to the other officers to look at what was on the dashboard. They saw a pack with white powder substance inside and he suspected that it was illicit drugs.”
The defendant was asked about what was in the pack but he answered back in a non-coherent manner. The defendant was arrested and they took him back to the Central Police Station. PC Tufui handed over the pack to PC Latu and signed in their station diary. The pack was then handed over to Sgt Leveni who tested and confirmed that it was methamphetamine.
The Magistrate stated that the accused had denied the illicit drug belonged to him.
“I fully accept the evidence of the Prosecution’s witnesses. I am satisfied that the substance found inside the pack and seized inside the vehicle was illicit drugs and it was in the defendant’s possession, as there was no other person with him. I also accept that on this early morning the defendant was so intoxicated that he could not control himself. Based on the evidence, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the offence,” she ruled.