A 37-year-old mother of seven who broke into a house in Nukunuku and stole Tongan koloa (mats and ta'ovala) worth $14,100, received a suspended sentence, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. 

Hon Justice Niu sentenced ‘Ana Katokakala Siale on two counts of serious housebreaking and theft committed on June 15, 2020. She pleaded guilty to both offences.

This was not the first time this accused had committed such crimes. She has a history of thefts, starting from 2004 when she broke into homes and stole their Tongan valuables, which included tapa and fine mats. She received suspended sentences and was placed on probation for those cases.

From 2015 she did not commit any offences, until she committed the present offences last year.

The accused said she stole because was in financial needs because of her big family and because there was not much left from her husband's fortnightly wages after deductions of outstanding loans. Her husband is a Staff Sergeant at His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) and the children are aged four to 16  years old.

Siale admitted remorse and had apologized to the complainant whose house she broken into and stolen properties.

“You have had no criminal activity for five-years, namely from 2015 to 2020. I am willing to give you the benefit of that abstention from criminal activity and say that is a long period.”

The accused had told the court that in December last year she started cooking food for sale. 

The judge considered that if only part of her sentence was suspended, then she would have to start right away to serve the unsuspended part of her sentence in prison.

“That means your present food business is stopped and there will be no more money for the family needs other than your husband's wages, which is already insufficient for them. Your family will suffer and the children's education will suffer and sooner than later, they will be in trouble.”

He then sentenced her to five-years imprisonment, which was suspended for three-years on the condition that she does not commit an offence during the suspension period.