Results for Nuku'alofa Supreme Court

The election of Sione Sangster Saulala as the Tongatapu No. 7 People’s Representative to the Legislative Assembly has been declared void by the Lord Chief Justice, who this morning found that he committed bribery on two occasions, during the November 2021 General Election campaign. After his election Saulala was appointed as the current Minister for Internal Affairs. The Lord Chief Justice said Mr Saulala was an unimpressive witness. By Linny Folau.

A 68-year-old man was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for three counts of serious indecent assault committed on a minor in 2021. The judge said young girls must be protected from sexual assaults and indecencies. He ordered that there should be no publication of any particulars relating to the victim, whereby her name or identity may be revealed.

Siaosi Faingata’a (24) of Navutoka was fined by the Court $500 for fishing in the Manuka Special Management Area, in a neighbouring village where he was not a resident, in the eastern district of Tongatapu.

Tupou Tafuna (39) was acquitted on four counts that included possession of 6.78 grams of methamphetamine and permitting the use of his house in Sopu for drug dealing, after it was not proven beyond reasonable doubt at the Supreme Court.

A 38-year-old man was acquitted on two charges of serious indecent assault on a teenager committed in Tongatapu in 2021. The judge did not believe the evidence of the complainant.

Tulapa Samoa Pese (38) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to a 22-year-old man with a machete at Lapaha. The judge found that the defendant carefully calculated and planned his attack. The way he carried out the attack was chilling, they ambushed the victim. “This is not only brutal; it is a cowardly behaviour to attack an unarmed person,” he said at the sentencing.

Melekiola Tu’ipulotu, who was convicted of serious bodily harm for using a machete on a 16-year-old boy, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, fully suspended for two-years at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. "I hope that this decision sends a message to our people not to take up a helepelu and use violence to make their points. Self-control is a necessary duty we must all demonstrate as responsible citizens in leading our families and communities," said the Acting Chief Justice.

Two men were convicted of murder, after repeatedly beating a father and seasonal worker, Fanaafi Misifani, on the head with metal pipes, at Holonga on 5 October 2019. A third man was convicted of manslaughter. The accused all aged in their 20s, will be sentenced on 17 December 2021.

‘Ana Katokalala Siale (38) who is currently serving time in Hu'atolitoli Prison was sentenced to serve an additional six-months imprisonment for the housebreaking and theft of $10,650 pa'anga worth of Tongan handicrafts in 2020. She is currently serving two-years six-months imprisonment for two previous convictions of similar offences.