A suspended Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Justice was jailed for 10-months, starting today, for causing the road death of a woman passenger while driving under the influence of alcohol in 2011.

Vatulele Tuputupu of Niutoua had received a 1-year and 10-months imprisonment sentence from Mr. Justice Charles Cato on November 5, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence for two-years upon his release, meaning he will serve only 10-months at Hu’atolitoli Prison.

The accused was convicted on September 24, 2013 after a jury found him guilty on the count of causing death while driving under the influence of alcohol. This was in relation to the death of 'Ana Toki (47) in a road accident at Lapaha on August 1, 2011.

The court was told that he was driving under the influence of alcohol in a government car and the victim, also from Niutoua, was a passenger.

Tuputupu was represented by Laki Niu, while Sione Sisifa acted for the Crown during nearly two-weeks of trial.