Former Assistant Electoral Commissioner, Afualo Daryl Mapu, has been sentenced by the Supreme Court to 18 months imprisonment on drug charges.
The son of the Speaker of Parliament, Papali’i Ta’eu Masipa’u Afualo, was found guilty of six charges of possession of narcotics, utensils, unlawful weapons, unregistered firearms, unlawful ammunition and ammunition without permit stemming from a police raid of his home in Nu’u-fou, December 28, 2021.
His co-defendant, Marie Fanueli had all charges against her dismissed when the Court found her not guilty, last month.
“The quantity of methamphetamine found on the accused was not insignificant,” said Supreme Court Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren during sentencing.
She also said, the increasing prevalence of this drug in Samoa and the impact on society cannot be understated.
On mitigating factors, the Court considered Afualo’s personal circumstances and his family being severely affected by his sentence.
The 39-year-old defendant is married with two children, and is a university graduate who worked his way from being an officer in the O.E.C. to becoming an assistant electoral commissioner.
