Prisoner gets another four years on 21 charges [1]
Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 16:24. Updated on Monday, May 5, 2014 - 10:21.
A 26-year-old Tongan prisoner was sentenced to a further four years imprisonment by Mr Justice Ford at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on June 10.
The accused, Manu Lolohea, who is currently serving a prison sentence and was to be released from prison on June 30, pleaded guilty to 21 charges, nine for house breaking, nine for thefts, one for common assault and one for possession of cannabis, all committed during 2002.
In sentencing Lolohea, Mr Justice Ford said that Lolohea had decided to embark on a life of crime and that he had 17 previous convictions going back to 1994.
Judge Ford sentenced him to three to four years imprisonment for each of the nine charges of house breaking; between six months to a year for each of the nine charges of theft; eight months for common assault; and two months for possession of cannabis. These sentences are to be served concurrently for four years after the term he is currently serving.
Lolohea's younger brother 'Anau Lolohea (24) was also sentenced to six months imprisonment for common assault. The Lolohea brothers did not have a legal counsel, and the prosecution counsel was Aminiasi Kefu.