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Public Prosecutor v Matis [2025] VUSC 28; Criminal Case 3841 of 2024 (24 February 2025)

SENTENCE

1. The Defendant Ian Matis pleaded guilty and accepted the summary of facts relating to one charge of possession of 4.144 grams of cannabis contrary to subs. 2(62) of the Dangerous Drugs Act [CAP. 12]. He is convicted on his plea and the admitted facts.
   
2. On 14 October 2024, the Police were called to attend on Mr Matis who was behaving riotiously at the Laplas area in Luganville. He was drunk. The Police found in Mr Matis’ right trouser pocket 13 rolls of aluminium foil wrap. Testing of the contents of the 13 rolls confirmed it to be cannabis weighing 4.144 grams.
   
3. Mr Matis is 19 years old. He is a Year 7 leaver. He is employed in a joinery in Luganville. He has no previous convictions. He pleaded guilty at the very earliest opportunity.
   
4. Mr Matis has served time in custody from 16 October 2024 to 27 November 2024, an effective imprisonment sentence of 2 months and 22 days.

End Sentence

5. Taking all of those matters into account, the end sentence imposed is 12 months supervision with a special condition that Mr Matis attends a drug awareness and rehabilitation program, and 70 hours of community work to be completed within 12 months.
   
6. Mr Matis has 14 days to appeal this sentence.
   
7. The drugs are to be destroyed.
   

DATED at Luganville this 24^th day of February 2025
BY THE COURT

.................................................
Justice Viran Molisa Trief