Traveler from territory escapes jail time in Samoa

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A citizen of the Philippines, who had traveled from American Samoa to Samoa when caught with methamphetamine in July of last year, escaped jail time, but was fined $4,000 tālā by the Samoa Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Samoa Observer reports Arianne Fae Timblique pleaded guilty to the offense, after initially pleading not guilty last year.

Senior Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson reminded Timblique that a monetary fine given by the court does not mean cases like this are not taken seriously.

He said the monetary penalty was a reminder that the court needs to hold the defendant accountable for the offences she committed, and that these crimes are not tolerated.

She was initially charged with possession of narcotics namely four clear plastic bags with meth in them, and one of possession of unlawful ammunition.

According to the summary of facts, Timblique came out of the airport last July and checked in again the next morning; and while going through screening, the alarm was raised as she had a bullet in her possession.

Upon being searched by aviation security, four packets containing methamphetamine weighing 0.83 grams were found on her.

The defendant, a teacher at Nu’uuli Vocational Technical High School, was ordered to pay the full fine within four weeks.

Photo: Samoa Observer.