14 Feb 2008

Court in Samoa raises concern over increasing drug cases

10:17 am on 14 February 2008

Samoa's chief justice has raised concerns over the increasing number of drug cases in the country involving young people.

Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu's comment follows seven drug cases before the court on Monday.

The defendants, who had been arrested at Fugalei market in the capital, each received short jail terms.

The Chief Justice says the court considered the young age of the offenders as a factor.

But he says young people need to make need to make better use of their time instead of wasting it in jail.

He says they should either go to school or serve their families, village and church.

The police found in one of the five young defendants aged between 17 and 22 years old small plastic bags of dried marijuana leaves.