The Supreme Court has sentenced Penisoni Tu’ifua Angilau to 13 years imprisonment for a series of serious offences, including supplying large quantities of methamphetamine, threatening a police officer, and money laundering.
The final three years of his sentence have been suspended for three years, meaning Angilau will serve an effective 10-year term behind bars provided he meets strict conditions and commits no further offences during that suspension period.
Angilau was found guilty on multiple charges following a trial.
The most significant convictions were for two separate counts of supplying illicit drugs.
The court found him responsible for distributing 520.5 grams and a further 534.53 grams of methamphetamine, amounting to a total of over one kilogram of the illicit substance.
In addition to the drug charges, Angilau was convicted of threatening a police officer during the processing of his arrest.
The court heard that he told the officer, “Man, my fingerprints have been taken many times, make sure because this is annoying otherwise, I will get up and beat you to death.”
A fourth conviction for money laundering was related to the acquisition of a Ford Ranger utility vehicle, with license plate L29241, using the proceeds of his criminal activity.
The suspended portion of his sentence acts as a strong incentive for good behavior upon his eventual release. If Angilau breaches the conditions set by the court during the three-year suspension period, he will be required to serve the full 13-year term.
The sentencing is seen as a strong stance by the Tongan judiciary against the distribution of illicit drugs and related criminal activities that threaten community safety.
