A 73-year-old man was sentenced to four and a half-years imprisonment for seven counts of indecent assaults on a teenager. 

Hon Mr Justice Cato sentenced the accused on November 9, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

The serious offences were committed on the female victim starting in 2017, in Tongatapu.

The judge in sentencing the accused to four and a half-years imprisonment, suspended the final 18-months on strict conditions.

This includes, that upon release he must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment, must live where directed, must not to drink alcohol and undertake courses on alcohol abuse, among others.

He was warned that failure to comply with the conditions may lead to him serve his suspended sentence.

The court then ordered suppression on the publication of the victim's identity or anything that might directly or indirectly identify her.