Some government officers awaiting court hearings or appearing for their scheduled hearings are currently facing illicit drug-related charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Uinikoni Kivalu from Puke and Sili’asa Tonga from Sopu were recently brought before a Nuku’alofa court following their separate arrests by law enforcement authorities in different locations.
Tonga had been arrested while working as a prison officer at Hu’atolitoli prison following the seizure of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia from a vehicle at the prison compound.
Kivalu was employed by the Ministry of Customs, and he had been arrested following allegations that a drum with illicit drugs was released without following proper procedures.
It has been reported that Tonga and Kivalu had been allegedly involved in drug dealing involving the 2.5kg meth police had recently seized.
Tevita Nonu Kolokihakaufisi, another individual implicated in the seizure of 15 kg of meth earlier this year, is scheduled to appear in court next month.
Kolokihakaufisi was a senior official who worked for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT).
The Police arrested him with 5.73kg of the illicit drug at their family residence at Kolofo’ou, while a further 9.927kg was seized from Tēvita’s office at the NRBT.
The police also arrested his sister, but a Supreme Court judge had discharged her on grounds of alleged mental health issues.
Life sentence
Tonga’s Illicit Drugs Control Amendment 2020 states that in respect of a Class A drug in the quantity of 28 grams or more, a convict can be sentenced “to life imprisonment.”
Methamphetamine is classified as a Class A drug.
The first Tongan to be sentenced to life imprisonment under the drugs life imprisonment law was 45-year-old Norman Kama Manulevu.
He was caught trying to smuggle 29.7kg of methamphetamine from Tonga into New Zealand.
The parcel was concealed in a food container transported from Tonga before it arrived in New Zealand in July of that year.
Manulevu recently appealed against his sentence. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application.
