'Aisea To'a was found not guilty today on two charges of bribery of a customs officer and attempting to evade Customs laws, by the Chief Justice Robin Webster at the Nuku'’alofa Supreme Court.

To'a was the third accused charged along with 'Amini Tu'’ivai and Siosifa Fatafehi (Veikune) for bribery and customs evasion of a container of rum imported from Fiji in 2003. The other two men were convicted on similar charges on January 25 by a jury.

To'a chose to be tried separately before the Chief Justice alone.

Chief Justice Webster said in his sentencing decision of To'’a today that on count one of bribing a customs officer, he found that it was not established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had offered money to customs officer Sione Lutu for the release of the Bounty rum container in 2003.

The Chief Justice also said on the charge of evading customs laws, both counsel essentially accepted that this count fell within count one, and as he had found that the first count was not established beyond reasonable doubt, he therefore found that it was not established that To...’a knowingly attempted to evade the import duties.

The necessary elements of these two counts had not been established beyond reasonable doubt and the judge found the defendant not guilty and acquitted him on both counts.

To'’a appeared before Chief Justice Webster on January 16-26 and was represented by counsel Tesina Fifita. Linda Simiki was the counsel for the Crown.