Results for Lord Chief Justice Bishop

Salesi Fa’aoa (33) was found guilty of receiving stolen timber valued at around $35,572 from T Construction Company, in a judgement in the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, on 26 March. Two co-accused also pleaded guilty. Lord Chief Justice Bishop also ordered a police inquiry into Fa’aoa's allegations of police misconduct.

A 60-year-old shop owner, Qiwu Huang, will be sentenced next month for receiving stolen property, including iPhones valued up to $14,000 pa‘anga,

Simaima Vaha’i (33) was sentenced to 12 months probation for stealing a mobile phone worth $715.84 from her employer, Digicel Tonga in Vava’u. Initially pleading not guilty to a larger theft charge, she later changed her plea to guilty for the theft of a Samsung Galaxy A34, leading to the discharge of the first count against her.

Lesieli Namoa as a judgment debtor in a civil case brought by Siosaia Moehau was found to have assets including a lease of Loumaile Lodge, funds of $160,000 pa'anga and Sakura Company Ltd.. While Namoa claimed that she did not have a bank account, the judge noted that her income “is clouded in mystery” and it may be a device to avoid her assets and money being traced.

Leave to set aside a $20 million damages “judgement in default” was granted by the Lord Chief Justice for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, its Governor and the news media whistle blowers. The current dispute is part of the ongoing litigation between the Tonga Development Bank and the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

Siaosi Halaholo Vete (42) was sentenced to two years imprisonment for three charges including serious housebreaking and theft of property totaling at around $46,798 from his sister’s home, in order to feed his methamphetamine habit.

Sosaia Vatikani (40) was jailed for serious housebreaking and theft of property, including electrical goods, worth $15,200 pa’anga, from the Nursing School at Vaiola Hospital, in Nuku'alofa - where he left a trail of fingerprints.