‘Atunaisa Kali, 50, was found guilty of cannabis possession at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa after a trial on 23 October, while his co-accused Mele Vakatapu, 24, was found not guilty.[1] Acting Justice Langi convicted Kali on two counts including possession of cannabis branches and acquitted Vakatapu.[1] Kali was found guilty on both counts and is expected to be sentenced in December.[1]
On 5 December 2025 police searched Kali’s residence in Popua without a warrant after receiving information that cannabis was being kept or sold there.[1] Officers found a package containing 508.78 grams of cannabis wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a plastic bag on a chair in Kali’s bedroom.[1] Police also found cannabis branches concealed behind a box of clothes in the same bedroom.[1] Both defendants were present in the bedroom when police arrived.[1] The court ordered the seized drugs to be destroyed by police.[1]
Kali claimed the package belonged to his brother and denied knowing that it contained cannabis or knowing about the cannabis branches.[1] Vakatapu said she did not live at the residence and only occasionally visited Kali.[1] The Crown argued the cannabis was in Kali’s private bedroom, was visible and known to both defendants, pointing to inconsistencies about when the brother allegedly placed the package on the chair.[1] The judge found Kali had custody and control over the package and knew or ought to have known that it contained cannabis.[1] On the second count the judge accepted police evidence about the branches and rejected Kali’s denial for lack of convincing evidence that an officer planted the cannabis.[1] The judge acquitted Vakatapu on both counts because the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she had custody and control over the drugs.[1]