Results for Lord Tu'ivakano

Lord Tu'ivakano was sentenced today to two-years imprisonment, which was fully suspended, for charges relating to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals. He was also fined $4,000 for possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license. In sentencing, the Chief Justice also took into consideration the potential ramifications of s.37 of the Land Act, clause 23 of the Constitution and s.386 of the Companies Act. (If the prison sentence was more than two years the noble would lose his hereditary rights.)

A jury of seven has found former Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano guilty on three charges that include making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport and perjury, at the end of a 21-days trial at the Supreme Court. The accused will be sentenced next month.

Lord Tu’ivakano has pleaded guilty this morning, March 4 to possession of an arm without a license. He will be sentenced on a later date.

The jury trial against Lord Tu'ivakano on offences relating to the issuance of Tongan passports continues in its fourth week, with the defence opening its case today, submitting insufficient evidence against the accused.

The trial against Lord Tu'ivakano on offences relating to Tongan passports, heard from a Crown witness, that despite lack of concrete evidence to prove naturalisation in two passport applications, the accused still directed for their issuance.

The jury trial against Lord Tu’ivakano who is charged with 10 counts, mostly passport related offences continues at the Supreme Court, in Nuku'alofa.

The trial of former Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano, who is facing multiple charges in relation to passport offences, began on Monday 10 February and a jury has been selected and sworn in at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Separate trials will be held in 2020 for Lord Tu’ivakano and two other co-accused, who are charged with Tongan passport offences at the Supreme Court.

Lord Tu'ivakano will now proceed to trial on 14 counts relating to the issuance of Tongan passports. This was after, a ruling today by Lord Chief Justice Michael Whitten, who found there is sufficient evidence to commit him for trial on eight out of the nine charges that the former Prime Minister challenged (the other six charges were not challenged).