Court of Appeal hears eight cases in Nuku'alofa [1]
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - 15:56. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
The first sitting of Tonga's Court of Appeal for this year started on April 16 and will hear eight appeal cases, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, up to April 27.
During the two weeks sitting judges will preside over four land cases, two civil case, one criminal case and one general registrar case.
The four land cases are; Kisione Fakafanua v Faua Development Ltd, Aivenihou Lisiate v Mele 'Eli, Lautaimi Lisiate, Vika Hui and Tapa'atoutai 'Eli; Pulileka Mateni v Paletasale Pulieka, Taulupe Tu'ungahala and Minister of Lands, and Loseti Mahe v Manono Mafi.
Two civil cases includes an appeal by Fililava Moala against the Public Service Commission and Government of Tonga; and Apex Insurance Brokers against Samipeni Finau.
The criminal case is 'Uha'one 'Aisea against the Crown.
Another case regarding a foreign birth registration, is between the Crown v Paul David Schaumkel.
The Court of Appeal judges, Mr Justice James Burchett, Mr Justice Peter Salmon and Mr Justice Michael Moore will announce their judgements on Friday, 27 April.
A second session of the Court of Appeal will be held in October.
Perjury
Meanwhile, a case that has been pending for a year since the same Court of Appeal panel ordered its reinstatement and submission to the Supreme Court for trial, is the perjury charge against Ramsay Robertson Dalgety, commonly known as Lord Dalgety.
The Supreme Court office confirmed this afternoon, that a trial date had not been set.
The Court of Appeal in April last year allowed the Crown's appeal against Justice Robert Shuster's judgement made in November, 2010 when he quashed the perjury indictment on the grounds that it was not dated or signed.
The indictment related to a statement Dalgety made in January 2010 at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.