A fisherman who grew cannabis and gave it to a prisoner at the Naboro Prison told the Suva court that he smoked it to find peace in life.
However, that explanation was not good enough as he was jailed for nine months by the Suva Magistrates Court in March 1984.
The Fiji Times reported that the man was Kelepi Ledua, 30 at that time, and pleaded guilty to three charges of growing and possessing marijuana, and supplying a prohibited drug to a prisoner.
The Divisional Prosecuting Southern at that time was Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandar Bhan Singh who told the court that on February 27, 1984, police were tipped off that marijuana was grown in Naboro-i-wai.
He said police searched the area and found nine plants growing in plastic buckets and tins.
On March 3, 1984, Ledua and three others went to Naboro Prison to visit a prisoner by the name of Epi Kunavere. DSP Singh said Ledua was seen passing a small parcel to a prisoner.
The prisoner was searched and found in possession of 9.8g of marijuana.
Ledua was interrogated and admitted that he committed all three offences. In mitigation, Ledua said he had 16 previous convictions and that he had stowed away to Hawaii.
Ledua said life was hard in Hawaii so he came back to Fiji and looked for land for farming.
He said he found a piece of land in Naboro-i-wai where he planted food and made a living by diving for fish and selling them. He said he grew the marijuana for his own use and did not sell it.
“I don’t believe in abusing marijuana and also believe that anyone who abuses it should be punished.
“Marijuana gives me peace in life,” he said.
In passing sentence, the then chief magistrate Gordon Ward said he accepted Ledua’s mitigation that he had grown the marijuana, but he had grown the marijuana for his own use.
Meanwhile, in Nausori, a restaurant owner was arrested for assaulting a police officer who had gone to investigate a report of illegal sale of liquor.
The 25-year-old restaurant owner was remanded in custody for allegedly assaulting a police officer who had gone with other police officers to the restaurant after receiving reports that the owner was selling liquor before regulated hours.
