Three young men have pleaded guilty to committing the string of armed robberies at three Chinese retail shops in Nuku'alofa, in January earlier this year.

They are Rodney Toki (24) of Fangaloto, Taniela Pohahau (27) from Tokomololo and Tuiaki ki Muli Pahulu (22) of Puke.

The armed robberies were committed on January 8-9 and January 11 this year, at shops in Ma'ufanga, Kapeta and Tofoa.

On October 25, Toki and Pohahau who were to start their trial before Hon Mr Justice Cooper, changed their pleas to guilty.

Toki pleaded guilty to three armed robbery charges and Pohahau pleaded guilty to armed robbery and abetment to the armed robbery.

In April, Pahulu had already pleaded guilty to three charges, that included one for armed robbery and two of abetment.

Threatened shopkeepers

The three accused during these robberies were armed with either a knife, steel bar and a machete when threatening the shop keepers for the cash.

The Crown's case was that on January 8, Toki and Pohahau armed with the steel bar threatened the shop keeper, at the shop in Ma'ufanga and took $1,500.

On January 9, Toki this time armed with the knife threatened a shop keeper at the shop in Kapeta and stole $1,900.

This was followed byJanuary 11, when Toki and Pahulu armed with the machete, took by force $7,400 from the shop in Tofoa.

All of the accused are detained in police custody to be sentenced on November 22.