Tonga Court of Appeal sits next week [1]
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - 21:37. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
THE Tongan Court of Appeal 2010 Session, which begins next week July 5-14 will hear 17 appeal cases, including an appeal against lashing sentences imposed for theft convictions.
The Appeal Judges for this year are Mr Justice James Burchett, Mr Justice Peter Salmon, and Mr Justice Michael Moore, with Tonga's Chief Justice Anthony Ford as chairman.
During the two-weeks session the judges will preside over four civil appeal cases, eight criminal appeal cases and four land appeal cases, with one appeal from the Magistrate's Court.
Ten of the appeal cases are made against decisions by Justice Shuster, four by Justice Andrew, two by Justice Laurenson and one by Justice Ford.
The eight criminal cases include appeals mainly made against sentences imposed for murder, manslaughter, embezzlement, theft, and an appeal against excessive sentence that saw offenders ordered to be given six lashes each in Vava'u for theft and other offences earlier this year.
The criminal appeals are Kaho against Crown; Fangupo v Crown, Fa'aoa v Crown; Salt v Crown; Sun v Crown; Kofutu'a v Crown; Seluini v Crown; and Havili v Crown.
The four civil cases are appeals made by Leiola Group Ltd v Moengangongo; 'Aukafolau v ANZ; Nasilai v Government of Tonga; and Cho v Kim.
There are only four land cases, consisting of an appeal by
Vea v Filipe;, Kainga v Maka; Finau v Koloi; and Mateni v Pulileka & Anors.
One appeal from the Magistrate's Court would be heard between Police v Police. This is an appeal made by the Crown on costs.
The Court of Appeal is expected to deliver judgments on Wednesday, July 14.
In last year's Court of Appeal Session 21 cases were heard.