Man who planted 4,970 marijuana plants jailed

A man who planted 4,970 marijuana plants and was found with 772.3 grams of marijuana in Tavua has been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

Apenisa Bulivou committed the offenses in 2016 and had pleaded guilty to the charges.

It was heard in court that Bulivou had fled when he saw the police officers approaching the farm.

He went into hiding and surrendered to police approximately two months after the raid.

Bulivou will serve the 8 years imprisonment concurrently with the existing imprisonment term with a non-parole period of 7 years.