A 21-year-old mother Meleane Mahe must stay out of trouble or otherwise she will have to serve eight months imprisonment, she was told after receiving a suspended sentence in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today.

Meleane of Nualei, Tongatapu who offended in 2005 pleaded guilty and was convicted on a charge of receiving stolen goods, namely a 15-foot mat and a tapa cloth from her brother and concealing it in her home at a tax allotment in Nualei.

Chief Justice Anthony Ford in his sentencing suspended the young woman's whole term of imprisonment for three years to be effective from today, due to no previous convictions. Meanwhile, Meleane is required to complete 80 hours of community work in which she must stay clear of trouble.

The Chief Justice advised Meleane that her relatives are related to the criminal world and if she was convicted in the next three years of a crime punishable by imprisonment then she would be arrested and serve that sentence in addition to the eight months imprisonment of this crime.

Meleane said that she defended the charge on the basis that she did know the goods were stolen and at a certain stage during her trial and after discussion she changed her plea to guilty.

The Chief Justice concluded, "You are married and have a young son and you look like a decent wife and mother, you also live in small wooden house that is hidden in a tax allotment, which appeals to people to leave their stolen goods at. But you are remorseful for what you have done and I am prepared to give you a second chance."

Man pleads guilty to theft on 16/11

Sione Kiokata pleaded guilty to one charge of theft at the Nuku'alofa Supreme court today.

Sione of Nukunuku was charged with stealing goods amounting to $2,513.50 pa'anga from a Chinese Shop at Poutaha during the Nuku'alofa riots on November 16, 2006. The goods consisted of one bed, a mattress, nails, paint, soap, coffee and other goods.

Chief Justice Ford will make his sentencing on Friday, August 24 and in the meantime the accused remains in police custody at the Nukunuku Police station.

Indecent assault

A 65-year-old man Latu Ta'ufo'ou will be sentenced on Monday, July 30 for the crime of indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl.

Latu of Fua'amotu committed the crime on March 2005 and was convicted by Chief Justice Ford at the Supreme Court on July 5 this year.

He appeared at the court this morning for sentencing but it was adjourned to give the defence counsel Teisina Fifita time to prepare a final submission.