Results for Nuku'alofa Supreme Court

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.”

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.

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.