THE Suva Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a man found with 68.6 grams of marijuana in November last year to 12 months in prison.
Jonetani Tawake was convicted by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad for a count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs committed in the Central Division.
Tawake had voluntarily pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted to the summary of facts.
With 82 sachets of marijuana found on him, Mr Prasad classified Tawake, who is not a first offender, as a drug pusher.
“The sentence also sends a strong warning across to the community that if you are found guilty for pushing drugs in Fiji, expect no leniency from the court,” ruled Mr Prasad on December 11 last year.
He added: “With 82 sachets properly wrapped in aluminium foil is strong circumstantial evidence that you were selling marijuana in order to make a living.”
