The Fiji Court of Appeal will deliver harsher penalties for those who are found guilty for cultivation of marijuana.

This was highlighted during an appeal case of Savusavu farmer Jone Seru.

Seru was convicted and sentenced to nine years imprisonment with non-parole period of eight years in 2017 for cultivating 5.5 kilograms of marijuana.

Seru appealed his conviction and sentence.

His conviction appeal was refused, however he was allowed an appeal against his sentence.

The case was presided over by Appeals Judges, Justice Chandana Prematilaka, Justice Alipate Qetaki, Justice Isikeli Mataitoga.

State counsel Sadaf Shameem from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had made an application for a guideline judgment with regard to cultivation of marijuana.

Ms Shameem had suggested to the court to consider a sentencing model for marijuana offences focusing on the capability and harm consistent with the Supreme Court’s endorsement of the methodology based on the Sentencing Council Guidelines in United Kingdom.

On the aspect of harm, Ms Shameem had submitted that much of the inconsistency in sentencing was because plant weighed much less when it had dried out.

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Story By:  Ashna Kumar

Feedback:  ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj