Second Court of Appeal session begins [1]
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - 18:29
A second Tonga Court of Appeal Session for this year began in Nuku'alofa on Monday, 5 September and will hear 10 cases, including appeals made by the Crown against American fugitive Antone Thomas Pedras and another by Kele’a newspaper.
The two-weeks session will conclude with judgments to be delivered on Friday, 16 September.
On Monday 5 September, the court heard an appeal by newspaper letter writer Solomone Palu, Mateni Tapueluelu, Laucala Pohiva Tapueluelu and Kele’a newspaper against former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and former Cabinet Ministers William Clive Edwards, Viliami Uasike Latu, Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata, Samiu Kiuta Vaipulu, Dr ‘Ana Taufe’ulungaki and Sangster Saulala.
This appeal is against a Supreme Court judge's decision in May dismissing their appeal filed in a defamation case that awarded judgment and costs against them back in a defamation case in 2013.
In 2013, Tu'ivakano and others took the appellants to court at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate seeking damages for defamation when the newspaper published Palu's letter, which alleged they were guilty of theft and embezzlement. The letter related to a decision to pay out millions of government money.
After a long trial, the Magistrate ordered the appellants (Palu and others) to pay more than $200,000 in damages and costs after they were found guilty of defamation.
At the same time on Tuesday 6 September the Crown appealed against a ruling in a case regarding Antone Thomas Pedras aka Chris Pedras aka Christopher A. Pedras. He had faced deportation from Tonga after an extradition hearing took place in Nuku’alofa in March this year.
Presiding judges are Hon Mr Justice Michael Moore, Hon Mr Justice Peter Blanchard, Hon Mr Justice Rodney Hansen and Hon Mr Justice Tupou.