Results for appeal

Two former police officers who are in jail for common assault, after they punched and kicked a defenceless 21-year-old in Vava’u, will not be allowed to appeal their sentences. President of the Appeal Court, Lord Chief Justice Whitten, in his ruling on 12 December rejected their applications, as they had no reasonable prospects of success.

The Appeal Court dismissed an appeal by Lord Fohe who was trying to evict Ve'etutu Mahe from a piece of land on his estate at Puke, Tongatapu.

Bruno Latu (27) got his three-years imprisonment sentence reduced for possession of 0.17 gram of methamphetamine seized at Havelu in 2020.

'Epuefi Laimani (37) who was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 5.15 grams of methamphetamine, while offering cash as bribes to a police officer, was successful in his appeal and got his sentenced reduced to three-years.

Melekiola Tu’ipulotu, who was convicted of serious bodily harm for using a machete on a 16-year-old boy, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, fully suspended for two-years at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. "I hope that this decision sends a message to our people not to take up a helepelu and use violence to make their points. Self-control is a necessary duty we must all demonstrate as responsible citizens in leading our families and communities," said the Acting Chief Justice.

‘Epuefi Laimani who is currently serving five-years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 5.15 grams of methamphetamine, and bribery of a police officer was denied an application to appeal against his conviction, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. However, he was granted leave to appeal his sentence.

Lilieta Tu’itupou (30) who assaulted her 54-year-old mother with a machete remains jailed for three-months, after appealing against her sentence to the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa. The judge said, this was a very sad case involving an adult daughter assaulting her mother.

An assault case was remitted back for trial at the Magistrate's Court, after the Lord Chief Justice quashed a decision by a Senior Magistrate to withdraw the charge. This was an appeal by the Crown in a case, Police vs Lose Hansen (respondent) who was charged with common assault.

An appeal by Lord Tu’ivakano against his conviction by a jury, will be heard on September 22 by Tonga’s Appeal Court in Nuku’alofa.