A single father of four children had two more years added to his jail time after he changed his plea to guilty on charges of possession of methamphetamine. 

Malu Palu also known as Alae Palu of Saina Faleata, Toamua and Vaitele was given the imprisonment term by the Supreme Court Justice, Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma last month. 

His co-defendant Faamatala Ainuu of Malifa who was charged with possession of utensils was lucky to get away with a $1,500 fine for his offence. 

According to the background of the case there were three men arrested and faced drugs related charges following a police raid at Fa’atoia in July 2022. 

The third defendant by the name Tupai has denied the charges against him and his matter is pending in Court. Tupai owns the house at Fa’atoia that was raided by Police. 

The summary of facts accepted by Malu says he paid $200 cash and was given methamphetamine weighing 0.252 grams in a clear zip lock plastic bag. 

Around the same time, police arrived at the premises in search for illegal substances. 

They found two accused who pleaded guilty inside the house.

Police found on Malu a clear zip lock plastic bag containing 0.252 grams of methamphetamine. They also conducted a body search of Faamatala and found a glass pipe inside his pockets which he then handed to police. The substances and utensils were confiscated by police.

Both men changed their not guilty plea to guilty for charges against them. 

In the pre-sentence report Malu admits that he was at Tupai’s house to buy methamphetamine when police raided the place. 

For Faamatala, he told probation that he went to take an ‘asiga’ to a friend’s parents who were visiting from overseas and staying there. 

That friend happened to be Tupai’s brother. Not long after he was there, Tupai and his friends arrived and one of them gave him a pipe which he placed in his pocket. 

Justice Roma noted Malu’s report shows he has a consistent pattern of drug offending starting from marijuana and now methamphetamine. He is a single father of four children and his mother says his involvement in drugs is a result of influence from his peers. 

For Fa’amatala he is 39, married with four children. He resigned from a Government ministry he was employed in shortly after he was charged. 

His application for a discharge without conviction was denied by the Court. 

Justice Roma then sentenced Malu on one charge of possession of methamphetamine to two years imprisonment and is to serve cumulative to the term he currently serves. 

For Fa’amatala, the Court convicted and fined him $1500. 

Lawyer Fuimaono Sarona Ponifasio acted for Fa’amatala while Malu was not represented by a counsel. 

The prosecutor is Attorney General’s Office lawyer, Aunoa Uele.