Men named in Ha‘apai $30m cocaine raid case released on bail

'Oku taupotu 'i lalo ha fakamatala faka-Tonga

The two men facing charges following one of Tonga’s largest cocaine busts can now be named and they have been released on bail.

‘Atonaisio Maile and Lepou Fatafehi appeared in a court before their bail was announced, Talaki newspaper reported on September 10.

The paper did not give the details and conditions of the bail.

The paper said the duo were expected to reappear at the Fasi Magistrate court on September 3.

As Kaniva news reported in July, the two men aged 26 and 28 years, were expected to reappear in court for a bail hearing.

Maile and Fatafehi faced various charges relating to importing cocaine into Tonga and possessing the drug for supply.

The men were arrested after 58kg of cocaine, with a street value of $30 million was seized in Ha’apai in June.

Meanwhile, the Supreme court has convicted and sentenced a Tongatapu man Siaosi Helu to one year and six months imprisonment after he was charged with one count of possession of 39 .65 grams of cannabis contrary to s. 4( a) of the Acts.

The sentence is to be backdated to 10 August 2018.

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