Heamani Lopeti was found guilty of armed robbery and serious bodily harm when he assaulted a warden’s son with a machete, during an armed robbery at a home in Hu’atolitoli Prison in 2014.

The prisoner was found guilty after trial by jury before Hon Mr Justice Cato on June 14, at the Supreme Court.

He said that Lopeti is a prolific offender who committed these offences while he was a prisoner. On this particular offending, he was out on weekend leave from prison.

The court heard that Lopeti and another man had arrived at the prison compound in a rental car, and broke into the house wearing masks and attacked Salesi Taufa with a machete, injuring his leg. The warden and other members of his family were out at a morning church service on November 9, 2014.

They stole 10 Tongan mats valued at $7,200 pa’anga before fleeing in the rental car.

Police arrested them later on that same morning in the rental car on Taufa'ahau Road in Veitongo, and the stolen goods were recovered from the boot of the car.

The judge remanded the prisoner in custody for sentencing on August 3.