Loketi Malie (39) is serving one-year three-months imprisonment for seriously harming a 56-year-old man, whom he hit on the leg with a piece of sandalwood in Futu, ‘Eua. 

After a trial before Hon Mr Justice Cato at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court in August, the accused was convicted by a jury of causing serious bodily harm to Siaosi Kuli.

The Crown submitted the offence occurred in the early hours of April 29, 2018 when the victim went with the accused to the accused's place to drink alcohol. 

The accused's wife was present during the drinking. 


The victim who had enough alcohol got up to leave but the accused insisted that he stay back and drink. 
The victim refused to stay back so the accused hit his left leg with the sandalwood.

The doctor who carried out the examination, found that the victim sustained bruises over his right upper eyelid, head concussions and swelling on the parietal occipital area. 

In addition, his left leg was put on a cast, with a wound on the anterior aspect of his leg. It was the doctor's opinion that he had a broken left leg secondary to hard blunt force trauma. 


The judge in sentencing the accused last month to two-years imprisonment, suspended the final nine-months on conditions, that he must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment, must not drink alcohol during suspension.

In addition, he will be placed on probation to live where directed and attend a course on alcohol abuse and rehabilitation.

The accused is now serving one-year three-months in prison backdated to when he was detained in police custody.