'Alamoni Makafilia (33) is serving 16-years imprisonment, for armed robberies at two petrol stations in Tongatapu in 2018.

In the Supreme Court on February 21, Hon Mr Justice Cato sentenced him on five counts, that included two convictions on armed robbery and one each for causing grievous bodily harm, serious arson and possession of arms without a license.

The overall sentence was 17-years but was reduced by one year, after the prisoner showed remorse. 

The 16-years sentence was backdated to when he was remanded in police custody on these charges.

Shootings

Police had reported that the armed robberies occured in two petrol station shootings at Fanga and Veitongo on September 5, 2018.

The first at Konifelenisi Trading Ltd petrol station (Fanga) took place at around 3:00am, when the prisoner armed with a .22 semi-automatic rifle, demanded cash before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle that was parked at the station.

A male security guard at the petrol station sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm, when the prisoner opened fire at the building.

Later, at around 4:00am, the prisoner again went to Luna'eva Petrol Station in Veitongo, armed with the same rifle, and demanded cash from a male station attendant.

The prisoner shot the attendant more than once, before fleeing the scene.