Samuel James Michael Chinfat told police he was selling meth to family and friends

A man’s drug dealing stint came to a screeching halt after he dobbed himself in to police. Find out why he did it.

A MAN’S drug dealing stint came to a screeching halt when he dobbed himself in to police, after he mistakenly thought they had evidence of his crimes.

Samuel James Michael Chinfat, 35, made the confession to police on November 6, 2020 – a day after they found .282g meth as well as various paraphernalia at his Innisfail home.

Townsville Supreme Court heard that the day before, police had seen a text between a woman and Chinfat, where he offered to sell her drugs for $100, prompting the search.

While Chinfat was not home at the time of the search, he later arrived at the station and spoke with police.

But in a curious move, Chinfat confessed he had been selling meth to his friends and family for a month.

Samuel Chinfat dobbed himself in to police for selling meth.

This was without police holding any evidence of Chinfat selling drugs, except for his text to the woman where he had offered to sell her drugs.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew Walklate said apart from the confession, there was no other information that the Crown had which could verify Chinfat’s story.

“He said he had sold about four to five points a week and would do most on weekends and at parties, and that he might have sold to between seven to 10 people regularly,” Mr Walklate said.

Chinfat also told police his phone had “fallen into the river” the day before – a comment Justice North likened to the adage “the dog ate the homework”.

“It raises an eyebrow, but … there’s no evidence that (confession) was not accurate,” Justice North.

Chinfat pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing a dangerous drug and trafficking in dangerous drugs.

His barrister Kelly Stone said Chinfat had an issue with marijuana since he was eight years old and had fallen into meth use after the loss of his son.

Mr Stone said Chinfat, who was now drug-free, had been selling the drugs to support his own habit, and noted his work history, and contributions to teaching family culture.

“As far as he knew at that time, the police knew about some supplies so he has dropped himself fairly and squarely in it …,” Mr Stone said.

Chinfat was sentenced to three years’ jail, with an immediate parole release.

Originally published as Samuel James Michael Chinfat told police he was selling meth to family and friends