A teenage rioter who set fire to two cars parked outside the Pacific Royale Hotel during the riots of November 16, 2006 will serve a two-year imprisonment sentence starting today.

In the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court Sione Tonga, now (20), of Halaleva pleaded guilty and was convicted of one charge of riotous assembly and two charges on the destruction of machinery by rioters.

Chief Justice Anthony Ford in passing sentenced initially imposed on Sione Tonga a four years imprisonment sentence to be served concurrently.

But after hearing submissions from his counsel Mana Kaufusi the Chief Justice decided that a suspended sentence was appropriate in this case.

He said this was due significantly to the defendant's early guilty plea which he got full credit for; he was young and a first time offender, he cooperated with the police and was truly remorseful for what he did.

He then suspended the last two years of Sione...’s sentence for three years starting from the day of his release, meaning he will only spent two years at Hu'atolitoli Prison.

The Chief Justice reaffirmed to the court what he previously told the second group of 16/11 rioters, who are currently serving prison sentences, that these are very serious offences.

Actively involved

The Chief Justice emphasised to the court that the two charges of destruction of machinery carried a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, while a riotous assembly charge carried a maximum of four years in prison.

"If it was not for your early guilty plea on the destruction charges I would have imposed on you seven years imprisonment. And your offending on the riotous assembly charge is also very serious but because of the guilty plea I will allow a discount on the sentence," said the Chief Justice.

Probation Report

In a probation report it was told that Sione was the youngest of two children and at the time of the offence he was an 18-year-old.

It was revealed his father returned to Italy 10 years ago and never came back and his mother also left Tonga for the United States leaving him to be raised by his aunt.

The Chief Justice said that on the day in question Sione was one of many who went into town when the riot took place and instead of just observing he set fire to vehicles parked on Taufa'ahau Road.

The court was also told that he walking downtown and he saw a black car was parked outside the Pacific Royale Hotel he jumped on top it and began pouring benzine onto a stack of paper before setting it on fire.

There was another black car parked, which was in the midst of being set on fire and Sione again actively participated in setting it on fire.