A 43-year-old farmer has been jailed for 16 months for being in possession of 0.61 grams of methamphetamine for the purpose of selling it in Nausori Town for $300.

Vilimoni Rokovucake was sentenced by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne for the charge of possession of illicit drugs on Friday.

Rokovucake had pleaded guilty and admitted the summary of facts presented by the Prosecution.

The facts were that on August 18, 2020 at about 4.20pm, Police officers of Nausori Police Station were on mobile patrol in Nausori Town when they received information that a passenger of a taxi, which was coming towards Nausori from Suva, had in his possession some illicit drugs.

The Police Officers proceeded to Nausori Village, end of the Rewa Bridge, and waited for the vehicle.

The taxi driver and Rokovucake were searched by the Police officers where Rokovucake was found in possession of a smoking apparatus (glass pipe).

The two were then escorted to Nausori Police Station for further search.

While Rokovucake was getting off the Police vehicle, one of the Police Officers noticed that Rokovucake was holding on to something.

When he was asked to hand over whatever he was holding; Rokovucake refused.

The Police Officer informed Rokovucake that he was under arrest and was cautioned.

Rokovucake had in his hand one clear zip lock plastic bag containing some other zip lock plastic bags containing white crystal substance.

It was discovered that about 20 clear zip lock plastic bags containing white crystal substance was inside the bigger clear zip lock plastic.

The white crystal substance was taken for analysis where results came back positive for methamphetamine with a total weight of 0.61 grams.

Magistrate Somaratne said to Rokovucake that being 43-years-old, he could not be accepted as a young offender.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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