The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a man Siosiua Tauelangi who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Magistrate Court for the serious assault of a man in Pea last year. The ruling revealed that Siosiua Tauelangi is a church minister, reportedly for the LDS Church.

Siosiua’s younger brother Fonua Tauelangi was also convicted for taking part in the assault but received a fully suspended sentence of six months’ imprisonment on the condition that he serve 40 hours community service.

According to the ruling made by Chief Justice Lord Paulsen on 9 April, Siosiua confronted and argued with the victim at a tyre shop before attacking him. Siosiua punched the victim whilst Fonua hit the victim with a rock. Since the event, the two brothers have reconciled with the victim and paid compensation.

Justice Paulsen stated that he had reservations about the Magistrate’s decision to suspend Fonua’s sentence because of the fact that Fonua used a weapon (a stone) in the assault. Siosiua’s sentence was not supressed because Siosiua had previously served time in prison for assault.