Results for Hon Mr Justice Niu

Daniel Bruno Moimoi (35) received a suspended sentence today at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court after his conviction on charges including the possession of 225.67 grams of cannabis seized at Tofoa, in 2019.

Tevita Valikoula (57) was sentenced today to five-years three-months imprisonment for receiving stolen Tongan properties valued at $19,400 pa’anga and encouraging another to steal $17,000 worth of kava plants. The judge said it was despicable the offender had exploited another man to his own advantage.

Taniela Moimoi (34) was found guilty at the Supreme Court for illicit drugs and ammunition offences. He will be sentenced on November 25.

Cash of $5,639 pa’anga that was seized by Police from 'Epuefi Holiday Laimani in a drug bust, is “tainted property”. The Nuku'alofa Supreme Court ordered that the money be confiscated to the Crown, and deposited into a Tonga Confiscated and Forfeited Assets Fund.

Talikivaha Palei Posoni was acquitted of possessing cocaine at Te'ekiu, after a Supreme Court judge found that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt the offence. There were discrepancies in the evidence because the analyst's report about the substance she received did not match the substance found by police at the accused's house.

Viliami Talivakaola was discharged at the Supreme Court on charges relating to the importation of prohibited goods, namely a shotgun and 900 ammunitions, alleged to have been smuggled to Tonga in a shipment from the United States last year. He found that the indictment against the accused was faulty.

Manase Tonga (42) received a suspended prison sentence on August 28 at the Supreme Court for possession of cannabis, and also a rifle and ammunition without a licence, in two separate incidents in 2018-19. The court was told the accused had begun selling drugs because his work fixing water pumps at the bottom of the village wells presented health and safety hazards, and caused impairments that made it difficult for him to maintain his family.

A woman whose flowering trees and plants on a Puke allotment were destroyed by a neighbour who had an interest in the land, has won an appeal in the Supreme Court to receive compensation for the loss of the plants in her private garden. The case involved two parties who had been given informal rights to use the land belonging to Noble Fohe.

Tevita Valikoula was found guilty today at the Supreme Court for receiving stolen properties, namely Tongan (koloa) mats and tapa valued at $19,400 pa'anga. He was detained in Police custody for sentencing on a later date.