Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2007
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2007 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

COURT: PROTECT VILLAGES FROM DRUG DEALERS

CUSTODIAL sentences are needed to protect members of the community 
from people who sell illicit drugs in the village, says Suva 
Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola.

He made the comment while sentencing a villager to 16 months in jail.

Emosi Toalevu, 43, pleaded guilty to being in possession of 5.7grams 
of marijuana.

Passing sentence, Mr Waqaivolavola said the prison term would 
discourage youths from using illicit drugs and stop drugs from being 
sold openly, especially in a village set up. "This should act as a 
future deterrent to you and other people who sell this illicit drugs 
and also potential drugs sellers from committing this offence in 
future, especially those who introduce it to villagers, let alone 
those who sell it," said Mr Waqaivolavola.

Acting on a tip off, police searched Toalevu's house in Nausori on 
March 12 this year. Toalevu ran away when he saw the police, who 
found 10 sachets of dried leaves under a mattress.

The leaves were later confirmed to be marijuana. In mitigation, 
Toalevu said he was married with a six-month child and his wife had 
one leg amputated and was being looked after by an Assemblies of God 
church.  He told the court he supported his family through 
subsistence farming. Toalevu said he was reformed, having joined a 
church and that he fully cooperated with police.

Mr Waqaivolavola started off with a two-year prison term and 
increased it by nine months to reflect the fact that Toalevu was 
selling the drugs in Rewa.

Mr Waqaivolavola said Toalevu committed the offence at Lomanikoro 
Village in Rewa, which one third of the Fijian community looked up to 
for leadership.

"You have breached the traditional trust of the people of Burebasaga 
by exposing the people of Lomanikoro to illicit drugs," he said. 
"Your actions had brought disrepute to the vanua."

He reduced the sentence by nine months due to the fact that Toalevu 
had been reformed and reduced it by another eight months owing to the 
guilty plea. 
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