'Alovili Kolo (47) was sentenced to five-years 10-months imprisonment for raping a woman in Tongatapu in 2018.

Hon Mr Justice Cooper, who imposed the sentencing on April 12, prohibited any publication of any details that could identify the victim in this case made under s.119. 

The accused pleaded guilty to a single count of rape on the morning his trial was to start, at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. The court was told this offence occured after a drink-up.

The judge in his sentence reflected the predatory nature of this serious offence and sentenced him to a total of five-years and 10-months imprisonment.

The last six-months of the sentence was suspended for two-years on conditions that upon release, he must not to commit any offences punishable by imprisonment, live where directed by his probation officer and complete a course on sexual abuse.

The court heard that in 2000 the accused caused the death of his then girlfriend in a drunken driving incident, when he crashed the car he was driving with her as passenger.

He was sentenced to three-years in prison for that offence.