A 27 year-old Tongan national Pita Manukeu has been sentenced by an Australian court to four and half years’ imprisonment for brutally assaulting and robbing a 24 year-old man in Perth last year. The victim Ajok Chol was beaten as he lay unconscious on a road, and was later rushed to hospital to undergo emergency brain surgery. Pita Manukeu has a wife and 5 year-old son in Tonga.

According to the court, the beating occurred during an altercation between two groups of men leaving a Perth nightclub. Pita became infuriated after his cousin was punched in the head by a friend of Ajok during an argument between the two groups of men. He retaliated by attacking Ajok who was on the outer of the arguing group, and continued to stomp and punch Ajok who was unconscious before stealing a necklace and key.

According to the court, Manukeu’s group had walked away from an initial argument before another altercation occurred after Ajok and his friends followed the group.

The court judge called Manukeu’s response a “complete overreaction”.

"That was not just one punch. You kicked him and then you stomped on his face while he was on the ground six times," the judge stated.

"…it was clear that Mr Chol was unresponsive and unconscious on the ground – That is something that you must have known at the time and you stole the items of jewellery and keys while he was lying on the ground."

Ajok Chol told Australian media that he was dissatisfied with the 4-year sentence and felt let down by the Australian Justice system. As a result of the traumatic brain injury, Ajok suffers from headaches and impaired vision.