A man found with methamphetamine at a Lotopa accommodation was sentenced to 18 months in jail by the Supreme Court.

Tupa’i Fialelei of Faatoia and Lotofaga was found guilty of drug-related charges following a trial before Supreme Court Judge Justice Leutele Mata Tuatagaloa. He was sentenced earlier this month. 

Fialelei denied one count of possession of a ziplock bag containing 1.17 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession of utensils. 

According to the evidence accepted by the court, the police attended to a call at the Mareke Lodge and carried out a search of the room occupied by the defendant. 

The room was registered under his name and during the raid police found illegal items and illicit substances in the room. 

The defendant has previous convictions of similar offences and was recently sentenced to an imprisonment term he is currently serving.

He is 38 years old, with a pregnant wife and two children from his previous marriage.  

Represented by lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu, the accused is said to be the sole provider for his family. 

Justice Tuatagaloa took two years imprisonment as the starting point and deducted six months for the village penalty as confirmed by the village mayor of Vaiala. 

"I reiterate what other learned judges have said about the need for deterrence," the court emphasised. 

"A custodial sentence is most appropriate to denounce such offending; to deter others from committing the same or similar offence and to protect the wider community from the potential harm of drug use."

In handing down the sentence, the court convicted Fialelei and sentenced him to 18 months for possession of narcotics and four months for possession of utensils. The four months will be served concurrently with the 18 months, however, the 18 months will be added to the defendant’s current sentence.