Chief Justice Salesi Temo has questioned the appropriateness of a suspended sentence handed to Nabua resident Jone Vakarisi after the man was found with marijuana inside the Suva courthouse cellblock last year, calling the act an attack on the integrity of the justice system.
Vakarisi appeared before Justice Temo on a review of the sentence that the Suva Magistrates Court imposed earlier this month after the defendant pleaded guilty to one count each of unlawful possession of illicit drugs and damaging property, offences committed in 2023. Court facts recounted that a police officer observed Vakarisi receive a package from another person while in the courthouse cellblock. When the officer attempted to search the item Vakarisi refused, triggering a scuffle; officers later discovered 15.2 grams of marijuana in his possession.
Magistrates Court proceedings had produced an aggregate sentence of three months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. At the review hearing, Chief Justice Temo said while possession of the quantity found would generally fall into a category one offending, the location of the offence made the matter substantially more serious. “Courts are places where the law is enforced and respected,” Justice Temo told the court, adding that bringing drugs into a courthouse or scuffling with police officers within the court compound undermined respect for the law and the authority of the court.
Justice Temo also expressed surprise that the State had not emphasised the seriousness of the offence’s location when the original sentence was imposed. He warned that perceived leniency toward conduct that challenges the authority of the court or its officers inside court premises risked sending the wrong message about respect for judicial processes and public safety within court compounds.
Vakarisi apologised in court, saying he had no intention of disrespecting the court and attributing his behaviour to emotional stress stemming from family problems. He told the court he had paid $47.50 to repair a damaged police uniform button, a matter noted during proceedings.
The Chief Justice extended Vakarisi’s bail and adjourned the matter to March 30 for further consideration. The review is the latest development in the case and could lead to a reassessment of the suspended sentence, depending on any further submissions or directions provided when the matter returns to court.
The hearing highlights judicial concern over incidents involving illicit drugs brought into court premises, underscoring the judiciary’s emphasis on maintaining the integrity and authority of legal institutions. The outcome of the March 30 review will determine whether the original suspended sentence stands or is altered to reflect the setting and circumstances of the offending.
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