Results for appeal

Saimone Vaka’s appeal arguing that his sentence was manifestly excessive was dismissed by the Appeal Court. He is currently serving two years six months imprisonment for the theft of meat valued at around $307,050.

An appeal by Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu, the former master of the M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa, against his two-year prison sentence, was dismissed by the Appeal Court in Nuku'alofa.

Hausia Vaka, who was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment with the last year suspended for grievous bodily harm, when he attacked and severely injured his neighbour's left hand with a machete in 2022, lost his appeal against conviction and sentence.

A fraudulent online car dealer, Filimone To‘aho, who was found guilty of eight charges of receiving a total of $243,486 by false pretences in a scam on Facebook, had his appeal against his conviction dismissed by the Appeal Court.

A cross-appeal by former government Ministers, ‘Etuate and ‘Akosita Lavulavu, challenging a Supreme Court judge's ruling that the Audit Office did not unlawfully uplift documents from the 'Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute, was dismissed by the Appeal Court last week, in the latest of a long winding legal battle, which has resulted in the constant delay of their re-trial.

Manly Palu (25), a drunk driver who injured a family in a collision, had his three years prison sentence reduced by one year, in a successful appeal against the sentence recently. The Court of Appeal in Nuku'alofa reduced his sentence to two years imprisonment with the last 18 months suspended on conditions.

The Tonga Appeal Court, in allowing an appeal by the Speaker to stop a judicial review of parliamentary procedure, recommended that the Rules of Procedure of the Tonga Legislative Assembly be amended if the practice of the use of circulars to pass substantial expenditures was to continue.

A Crown application was granted to appeal against the sentencing of Falakiko ‘Asisi Mafi (43) on the grounds that it was manifestly inadequate for reckless driving, causing the death of his Fijian wife.

Samiu Mafi was ordered to serve a sentence of one-year imprisonment for drugs offences imposed by the Magistrates Court, after his appeal was dismissed when he failed to demonstrate that the ruling was wrong.