By Linny Folau
Sione Kei’aloha Langi (31) and Viliami Pongi (42) were jailed for charges including serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $20,440 from a business in Veitongo.
The business, Magic Rench Spare Parts, is situated opposite the Lopaukamea Gas Station.
On 6 November 2024, at 5:00pm, the complainant Mr. Yu, the owner, stored their work tools in the storeroom of the warehouse and then left for Ha'asini. On the next day, at 8:00am, he returned to work and found the storeroom's lock on the floor.
Then on 14 November 2024, one Halahuni, an employee of Magic Rench discovered some of the tools that were stolen from their workplace in a post on a Facebook Garage sale. Police recovered seven starters, eight gaskets, and four boxes of sparks, which had been sold to Takilesi.
Police arrested both Viliami Pongi and Sione Langi. Also recovered were 15 starters and three gaskets from one Samipeni, a person whom they sold to.
Lord Chief Justice Bishop sentenced the pair on 30 June at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. This was after they pleaded guilty on in April to three charges that included receiving stolen property. This was in relation to commercial premises when a large number of items were stolen from a vehicle repair and refurbishment business.
The total value of the stolen items was $20,440.
“The mistake for the person to whom you sold the goods was to offer some of them for sale on Facebook.This enabled an honest employee of the losing party to spot items concerned and to realize that they belonged to his employer. He together with the employer went to the advertiser who apparently innocently obtained the goods. They then got in touch with the police,” he stated.
All the goods were recovered according to one of the defendants
“In addition, Pongi faced a summary matter from Magistrate’s Court that was committed up on Friday 27 June 2025 as CR 110/2025 for joint sentencing. In this summary matter he faced four charges two for unlawful possession of cannabis and two charges for possession of utensils that included one smoking pipe and 160 empty packs.
“Housebreaking is of course a serious matter, but I bear in mind that these were commercial not residential premises and at the time of the offending it was not occupied. I also bear in mind that I have been told by one of the defendants that all the stolen items have been recovered.”
Furthermore, the Lord Chief Justice saw no basis for distinguishing between either of them on the basis of the offences itself in counts two and three.
“That is to say that one committed the theft and the other received the stolen goods. But there are differences between them. Pongi he has previous convictions on 21 May, 2020 for the unlawful possession of illicit drugs on two occasions together with the possession of ammunition without a license. He was put on probation for 12 months as a result.
“Although, the matter is not expressly stated I infer that you Langi were man of previous good character. You both each pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, assisted the police in the recovery of the items under and I am told by both of you today that you are sorry for what you did,” he stated.
"So far as theft and receiving stolen property charges are concerned, I have decided to treat you both equally both having regard to totality and fairness between you Langi and also to the fact that the previous conviction you have Pongi is now 5 years old.”
The Lord Chief Justice also considered whether all or a part of their respective sentences should be suspended in accordance with the principles in Mo'unga. Neither of them are young, they pleaded guilty at the earliest moment and cooperated with the police and he was told that they are remorseful, and the goods have been recovered.
Sione Langi was sentenced to two years imprisonment with the last 15 months suspended for two years, on conditions. He is serving nine months imprisonment.
Viliami Pongi is serving 12 months' imprisonment followed by nine months, which was suspended on conditions. This included sentences imposed in the cases submitted from the lower court.
