A woman charged with possession of illicit drugs was jailed on Tuesday by the Suva Magistrates Court.

Atelaite Luvuci committed the crime on September 17, last year, which she had pleaded guilty.

From the eight-month sentence Luvuci will serve four months at the correction centre. The remaining four months will be suspended for three years.

Luvuci was found in possession of 0.1 grams of methamphetamine, which is commonly known as ice.

Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne said: “A methamphetamine user is not the typical drug user because methamphetamine has acute toxic effects that produce long-term problems for the user and those around him or her.

“The main consideration in sentencing is to deter people in Fiji from using this highly addictive drug which would cause havoc in society.

“A custodial sentence is warranted to deter people from possessing and using this drug and to protect the young people from this menace.”

For mitigating factors, the court heard that Luvuci was a first offender, she was a single mother, she had sought forgiveness from the Court and had co-operated with the Police.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback: jessica.gounder@fijisun.com.fj