Father of two walks free,given chance to reform

A25-year-old man charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs was discharged without conviction in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

Magistrate Waleen George stated that this was an opportunity for Jone Toga to reform his life for the future of his children.

Toga had entered a guilty plea for being in possession of 1.2grams of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), an illicit drug in 2017.

The court heard that on November 18, last year Police received information that some youths were selling drugs at the Suva Market.

Toga, a labourer was approached on the said date and escorted to the Market Police Post where he is alleged to have thrown something underneath the table.

Police found that it was a packet of Benson & Hedges (BH) 10 containing two sachets of dried leaves wrapped in aluminium foil believed to be marijuana. In mitigation Toga, who represented himself, told the court he was using the marijuana for himself and not for sale, he is a father for two and will not commit the same crime. Magistrate George said Toga, being a father to two young children (aged one and three), must understand that it was time for him to stop using the drug and to see the many people who were at the Saint Giles Hospital for marijuana cases.

Toga was a first offender and entered an early guilty plea in which the court decided to give him a second chance.

She said if Toga appeared before the court again, he would not be given another chance, but would be charged and could face imprisonment.