Woman jailed 2 years for 484g cannabis; co-offender suspended in Nuku'alofa
Kilisitina Finau, 34, was sentenced to two years in prison in Nuku'alofa on charges including possession of 484.43 grams of cannabis. Her 23-year-old co-offender Lesieli Makasini was found guilty of possessing a smaller amount and received a suspended sentence.
Kilisitina Finau, aged 34, is serving two years in prison on charges including
possession of 484.43 grams of cannabis.[1]Her 23-year-old co-offender,
Lesieli Makasini, was found guilty of possessing a lesser amount of cannabis and
received a suspended sentence.[1]
The case was heard at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court under Lord Chief Justice
Bishop.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
The article is paywalled beyond its summary, so the full sentencing remarks, any additional counts against Finau, and the circumstances of the seizure were not available.
The amount of cannabis attributed to co-offender Lesieli Makasini was described only as a lesser amount and no weight was published.
The article gives no separate date for the sentence; 2 October 2025 is its publication date and is used as the incident date.
Acting Justice Langi sentenced Folauhola Palanite, 40, to 21 months in prison, with the final six months suspended, and gave his wife Mele, 36, a 15-month term fully suspended for two years at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa on 22 October 2026. The couple had admitted possessing 40.07 grams and 3.89 grams of cannabis, along with drug utensils.
Viliami Taulafo, 34, was given a fully suspended 18-month prison term at Tonga's Supreme Court for possessing 200.98 grams of cannabis found at his Talafo'ou home. Police seized the cannabis in a February raid, and the court suspended the custodial term for two years with probation, a drug programme and community service.
Tonga's Supreme Court sentenced Mekiloni Fotu Aso to 18 months in prison, with the final six suspended, after police found 63 cannabis plants and 266 grams of cannabis at his Fua'amotu home in July 2025. He pleaded guilty to cultivation, possession and utensils charges; the court ruled he was a supplier.
‘Aisea Pese Havea, 42, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for growing three cannabis plants in Ha’ateiho, Tonga. Police found the 2.3 kg plants in a backyard taro plantation after a Tonga College student was caught with cannabis leaves.