The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed Jone Vakarisi sentencing for having marijuana within the confines of the court on 19th January 2023.
Vakarisi was found with 15.2 grams of marijuana and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, suspended for two years by the Magistrates Court.
Vakarisi appeared before Chief Justice Salesi Temo this morning.
Chief Justice Temo says he is very disappointed in the learned Magistrate's sentencing of Vakarisi.
He says while the drugs are on the lower scale, it is the location where they were found is a concern.
He says if people start to disrespecting the Court, assault police officers, and if the Court goes soft and they let people get away with things like this, then it will be the beginning of the end.
The Chief Justice says very soon all the remandees will be calling their friends to bring them marijuana, as they will only get three months plus a suspended sentence.
The State was represented by Eoghn Samisoni, while Vakarisi represented himself.
The Chief Justice says if you bring marijuana to the courthouse, you are disrespecting the courthouse.
The case has been adjourned to March 30th.
