Results for Nuku'alofa Supreme Court

Eight local people in Vava’u were sentenced to between three years to 13.5 years imprisonment for their opportunistic roles in handling blocks of cocaine from a large shipment, found washed up on 'Otualea Beach there in 2021. They were caught in an investigation that started when children at Holeva picked up a brick of cocaine on the beach and handed it in to authorities.

Siutaisa To’ia (27) received suspended sentence for 13 counts, including forgery and obtaining money by false pretenses, totalling at $35,000 from her father’s bank account in December 2021 to January 2022, in Nuku'alofa.

Titali To’ia got more jail time when he was sentenced to six-years imprisonment for reckless driving causing the death of Netane Nimo at Veitongo in 2022. The judge said the defendant's offending was serious and “demonstrates a disregard for the law and for the safety of other users of the road.”

Lautaimi Makafilia (31) was sentenced to four-years imprisonment for the serious housebreaking and theft of electronic goods, whose value exceeded $82,000 pa’anga, from Lord's Mobile in Nuku'alofa last year.

Siuta Taufa (25) was sentenced to four-years six-months imprisonment for reckless driving causing the death of his 20-year-old male passenger at Malapo in 2021. He was driving in excessive speed, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

A former Senior Customs Officer, Paula Naitoko (68), was sentenced on 21 October to six-years imprisonment for importing a substantial amount of methamphetamine and firearms, concealed in a box from the United States in 2019.

A prolific offender, ‘Okusitino Langi (49), who is serving a lengthy prison term for drug offences, received additional time for similar offending in prison, totalling nine-years imprisonment, after being sentenced on 14 October. The Lord Chief Justice said the circumstances of this offending were troubling. “For the defendant to have been able to possess and sell drugs in prison suggests real operational deficiencies in security within the prison.”

Viliami Wight (27) and Samiuela Mahina (22) have been jailed for possession of 6.8 grams and 1.14 grams of methamphetamine respectively, seized at a residence in Veitongo by Tonga Police, who suspected their drug dealing in 2021.

Hateni Kaufusi was found not guilty of theft of a car and robbery of cash at a petrol station on Hihifo Road, after the Prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.