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'Ice' was for friend, lawyer tells Samoa Court

The lawyer representing a Quarantine officer convicted of smuggling methamphetamine into the country told the Supreme Court yesterday he went to pick up the package for a friend.In his final sentencing submission, Tole’afoa Solomona Toa’iloa said the defendant was “merely acting for a friend he referred to in his evidence”.Junior Patau, 45, is charged with one count of possession of a narcotic namely methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.He was found guilty by a panel of assessors last month after pleading not guilty.Tole’afoa submitted that despite the prosecutor claiming there were no mitigating factors, he believes there are.“There are mitigating factors; firstly the defendant made no effort to circumvent procedure at the airport or try to influence customs workers,” he said.“He let normal procedures dictate, and second fact is he cooperated with customs.\“No one got hurt from his actions and I submit that he is a first time offender which shows he’s been a law abiding citizen for 45 years.”According to Tole’afoa