Nuku'alofa’s Supreme Court has thrown out a civil claim by a former Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, who was seeking $5.75 million pa'anga in damages from the Kingdom of Tonga and others, for alleged “malicious prosecution” of him on criminal charges relating to the so-called ‘Tongan Passports Scandal’. The Lord Chief Justice M. H. Whitten, in a 78-page judgment on 28 October, set out details of how the passports investigation began and listed evidence collected by the Serious Organised Transnational Crime Unit. “I find that there was no evidence of any improper purpose for the prosecution. The only purpose discernible from the evidence was the proper invocation of the criminal law,” he stated.
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Results for Nuku'alofa Supreme Court
Chief Justice dismisses $5.75 million damages claim by Lord Tu'ivakano in ‘Tongan passports scandal’
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 1 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kalapu Felemi (49) received a suspended sentence for serious causing bodily harm, when he used a knife to repeatedly hit and injure his younger brother, Tesimoni Felemi (38) during a drink-up at Tatakamotonga.
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Thursday 28 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Moli (35) was sentenced today to three-years imprisonment for possession of 6.91 grams of methamphetamine seized by Tonga Police, after receiving information that he was selling from his home in Nukunuku. Another nine-months was added for his breach of his suspension on the previous case. A co-offender received a suspended sentence.
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Wednesday 27 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three young men have pleaded guilty to committing the string of armed robberies at three Chinese retail shops in Nuku'alofa. They are in police custody to be sentenced on November 22, at the Supreme Court.
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Wednesday 27 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Helu (36) was sentenced today to one-year imprisonment for possession 0.04 gram of methamphetamine found hidden inside his underpants, during a routine body search by Police, when arrested for public drunkenness at Fasi.
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Friday 22 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Penisimani Angilau received a suspended sentence today for causing serious bodily harm to another man, when he hit him with a piece of timber fracturing his left hand during an argument at a petrol station at Vaini. The Supreme Court judge ruled this as a case of special circumstances because the offender was provoked when the complainant jumped into the queue at the petrol station and refused to back off.
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Friday 22 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A claim by 'Ikani L. Taliai against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and others for breach of contract seeking a sum of $140,000 and general damages of $80,000, was dismissed by the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Wednesday 20 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siueli Angilau (42) received a suspended sentence today for possession of 0.55 grams of methamphetamine and cannabis weighing 267.83 grams, at Fanga. Police received information that drugs were being sold from there.
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Tuesday 19 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Tupou Tonga (24) received a suspended sentence for serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $4,200 at a home in Fangaloto, after he had been drinking there. He robbed the house when his host fell asleep.
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Monday 18 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
After a trial at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, Siu ‘i Vahanoa Tu’ipulotu (48) was found guilty of serious housebreaking and robbery at a store in Ma'ufanga, where he punched the complainant several times, before stealing goods. He will be sentenced on November 18.
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Friday 15 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Okusitino Langi (47) who has an extensive criminal history, was sentenced today to six-years three-months imprisonment for possession of substantial illicit drugs, including 43.85 grams of methamphetamine at Hala’ovave. The prosecution said the amount of methamphetamine seized was substantial,
the dealer bags and other drug-related utensils and cash found indicated a commercial enterprise.
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Thursday 14 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tupou Tafuna (39) and his wife ‘Amelia (32) were jailed for possessing 3.82 grams of methamphetamines and 22.60 grams of cannabis, after Police received information they were selling the drugs at home in Sopu.
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Tuesday 12 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A death penalty was seriously considered by Tonga's Lord Chief Justice, before he gave a life sentence yesterday, to the man who admitted the murder of prominent human rights activist Polikalepo “Poli” Kefu (41) in April this year. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC, convicted ‘Inoke Silongo F. Tonga (27), a meth addict, of the murder at a beach in Tatakamotonga. He said the offending was “a heinous crime of extreme brutality and depravity.”
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Friday 24 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Pouono (21) was sentenced to 32 and a half-months imprisonment for serious causing bodily harm, when he used a hammer to beat up the driver who gave him a lift, when he was hitch-hiking in Lapaha. He was currently serving time in prison for a knife attack that severed a victim's finger, that happened the day before the hammer attack.
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Thursday 23 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lisiate Lakalaka (21) was sentenced to 16-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of electronics goods valued at $10,900 pa’anga, at 'Anana. The offender had previous convictions.
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Wednesday 22 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Latu Mata’u (43) was sentenced to 34-months imprisonment for serious causing bodily harm to a 21-year-old, whom he injured with a metal pipe while drinking at Veitongo. The sentence was fully suspended due to factors considered by the Supreme Court Judge that resulted in this exception.
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Wednesday 22 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Vainikolo Maile (39) who was convicted of serious indecent assault of a woman received a suspended sentence on condition, that he voluntarily be admitted to the Psychiatric Ward at Vaiola Hospital for three-months. The judge said Maile is someone who has struggled with intellectual impairment from birth and there was no system of support that was offered in his formative years.
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Tuesday 21 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ta‘ufo‘ou Fale‘ofa (45) was sentenced today to 20-months imprisonment for using a firearm without a license, specifically a .45 pistol, which he fired at a vehicle in Kolonga in January this year, after entering a home with a loaded firearm. The judge noted the accused had a significant criminal history both here and in the United States for violence involving firearms.
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Monday 20 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Isileli and Sofia Tu’ifua (both 27) were sentenced to six-months imprisonment each, after being convicted on joint counts of possessing methamphetamine and cannabis. Their sentences were fully suspended.
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Monday 20 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Samuela Fiefia (26) was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for possession of 1.19 grams methamphetamine and possession 4.27 grams of cannabis seized at his home in Ma'ufanga.
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