A Tongan family who stole fine mats from a princess were sentenced in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on April 16.

Mele 'Ofanoa, a Nuku'alofa bar tender, pleaded guilty to the purchasing of stolen properties, valuable mats and other cultural materials that belonged to Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Senituli 'Ofanoa pleaded guilty to charges of house breaking and house theft after breaking into the storage at the Princess' residence, Fatai, in central Nuku'alofa and was sentenced to 12 months probation.

Malamala 'Ofanoa, a security guard at the Garden Bar, who helped with the transportation of the stolen goods from Fatai and delivery to Mele 'Ofanoa, was received a 12 months suspended sentence of three months' imprisonment.

The counsel for the Crown, 'Aminiasi Kefu, told the court that Senituli 'Ofanoa befriended a son of Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, the Hon. Fotofili, who brought him to Fatai to help out with household chores at the residence. But between July and August 2003 it was alleged that fine mats and tapa were stolen from the residence and sold to Mele 'Ofanoa. The stolen goods which were discovered in Mele 'Ofanoa's possession, were valued at about $4,400, which she purchased from Senituli in exchange for $400 and two crates of Royal Beer. However, not all the stolen goods were recovered.

Counsel for the defence was Sifa Tutafaiva.