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.
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Results for appeal
Friday 24 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 1 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Simione Ikahihifo (55) who was sentenced to serve seven and a half-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of 'Aisea Kaifa (66) in 2020, had his sentence reduced to five-years by the Appeal Court on October 1.
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Friday 16 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘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.
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Thursday 15 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Prolific thief, Penisimani Tupa's application for leave to appeal against his six-years nine-months sentence was denied by the Lord Chief Justice, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, who noted the applicant's “appalling criminal history”, and that the applicant had learned nothing and therefore could not expect further leniency.
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Thursday 1 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Monday 11 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Tui’one Pulotu (47) will continue serving his prison term for serious indecent assaults committed on a woman in Tongatapu, after his application to appeal against sentence was refused by the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Monday 26 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Thursday 22 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal by Lord Tu'ivakano against his conviction is now awaiting judgment from Tonga's Court of Appeal.
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Friday 4 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Friday 4 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An application by ‘Anisi Kulufeinga Bloomfield for leave to appeal against his extradition to Fiji under the Extradition Act was refused by Lord Chief Justice Whitten, in a ruling from the Supreme Court on 2 September. The extraordinary circumstances of the case, and contradictory letters from the Prime Minister, required an affidavit from the Prime Minister to be considered in the ruling.
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Friday 31 July 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Lord Chief Justice quashed a Senior Magistrate’s decision and reinstated the guilty plea of man accused of theft. He returned the case for sentencing at the lower court in Nuku’alofa. The appeal included grounds that the Magistrate erred in law.
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Friday 8 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Supreme Court upheld a conviction imposed on a man in Vava'u who scammed another of $7,000 pa'anga in return for kava.
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Saturday 21 September 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal against a Magistrate decision, which granted a bail variation to the Minister for Justice Hon Vuna Fa’otusia allowing him to travel outside of Tonga, was dismissed by a Supreme Court judge after finding the appeal was misconceived and had no merit.
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Tuesday 6 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd (Tongasat) will have to pay further security of $35,000 pa'anga to the Supreme Court, before their appeal against a ruling of the former Lord Chief Justice may be heard.
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Monday 15 July 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against a Magistrate's decision, which granted a bail variation to Minister of Justice, allowing him to travel outside of Tonga. The Crown alleges that proper procedure for his application was not carried out according to the law. The Minister who is currently facing criminal charges related to wrongful interference in a cow row, is on bail.
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Tuesday 21 May 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen ruled on an appeal today that there is sufficient evidence to commit Lord Tu‘ivakano for trial on four charges of accepting a bribe as a government servant. This returns the charges against the former Prime Minister back to a total of 12.
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Friday 17 May 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A hearing on an appeal by the Crown against a ruling by a Magistrate discharging four counts against former Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, namely for accepting bribes by a government servant was heard on May 17 at the Supreme Court.
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Wednesday 1 May 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siokatame Tupou continues to serve a lengthy imprisonment term for attacking and injuring two men with a machete in 2017, after the Appeal Court dismissed his appeal and said, offenders inflicting serious injury with a weapon must ordinarily expect to serve a term of imprisonment.
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Thursday 18 April 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A long legal action brought by Busby Kautoke against the termination of his employment as Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, has again been referred back to a Public Service Tribunal for re-determination.
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Thursday 18 April 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Prisoner and prolific offender Heamani Lopeti will continue to serve his 10-years imprisonment, after his appeal against conviction and sentence for armed robbery and serious bodily harm was dismissed.
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