Results for Lord Chief Justice Bishop

Penisoni Tu’ifua Angilau (37) is serving 10 years in prison for four charges that included supplying 534.53 grams of methamphetamine to his second cousin to pack the illicit drug at her residence in Lomaiviti, Tongatapu, in March last year. Police seized cash totalling $90,125 and a Ford Ranger Vehicle, which the court forfeited to the Crown.

Viliami Tukumoe’atu (28) is serving one year imprisonment for reckless driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the death of his father in Makaunga in January this year. The accused was driving at up to 140 kilometres per hour, when he struck an oncoming vehicle, lost control and crashed into an electric pole. “In passing sentence, you do not need me to tell you what this tragedy has unfolded,” the Lord Chief Justice said in passing sentence.

An arsonist, Taniela Matangi (38) will serve seven years imprisonment, for serious housebreaking and stealing tapa and mats from a church minister's home in Longolongo. The charges included serious arson after he set fire to a bedroom at the home. Three others were jailed for receiving the stolen property.

Two men and one woman were jailed for possession of 20.92 grams and 13.52 grams of methamphetamine seized in a police raid outside a restaurant in Houma. In sentencing the trio at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, Lord Chief Justice Bishop said Methamphetamine is a serious scourge in Tonga. “Considering the current increase of illicit drugs in the community, deterrence and with it punishment, is of greater priority than rehabilitation.”

Motekiai Taufahema (48) was jailed for three years after being found guilty of two offences that included causing serious bodily harm, when he threw a machete injuring a man in a confrontation outside his home in Navutoka. Police also found drugs utensils inside the home. The Lord Chief Justice stated that this incident was entirely of the defendant’s own making. He has a record for serious violence.

Sione Ngaue and Salesi Fa’aoa were sentenced to imprisonment for charges that included theft and receiving stolen timber valued at $35,572 from a builder’s warehouse. Their co-accused, Steve Koloamatangi received a suspended sentence.

Kulisitafu Fehoko (32) is serving eight months in prison for two charges that included possession of 1.28 grams of methamphetamine and utensils siezed in his vehicle, when he was intercepted by Police in Vaololoa last year.

Viliami Tino Ma’u (28) is serving 16 months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $1,848 from a store in Ma’ufanga last year.

Sione Fifita (20), received a suspended 12-month prison sentence for reckless driving that caused grievous bodily harm to a 21-year-old man. He was sentenced on March 11, in the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, with the judge considering his young age and first-time offender status.