Metui Panuve of Havelu was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of possession and supply of marijuana at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on June 6.

Panuve, a second time offender of the same crime, was previously given an 18 months suspended sentenced after being convicted in 2001 at the Nukuu'alofa Supreme Court.

The court was told that Panuve confessed to the police that he continued to smoke marijuana and to sell it to the public at $10 pa...’anga per small packet, after his first conviction.

On December 29, 2004, the police searched Panuve...’s residence at Havelu and found 23 small plastic bags of marijuana each weighing at 28 grams, inside a small bag tied around his waist.

The police then continued their search to a rental car parked outside his home and found in the glove box a paper package containing leaves and buds of what was alleged to be marijuana.

Mr. Justice Anthony Ford said in passing he judgment that he was not persuaded that a suspended sentence of any kind was appropriate in this case. He said it was clear that the accused did not learn any lesson from his previous conviction and continued to commit the same offence.

Sione Sisifa was the Crown Counsel, and Mele Mangisi represented the defendant.