Siosaia Tu Maile (20) was sentenced yesterday to eight-years imprisonment for the manslaughter death of Ned Cook (67), the Salvation Army Team Leader in Nuku'alofa in 2020, who was punched in the face when he was walking home from an evening out. "In that split second of senseless brutality, one life was ended and the liberty of another must now be severely curtailed," said the Chief Justice. He noted that in Tonga, some in the community tend to resort to violence to address any annoyance, no matter how small. “This case must serve to deter others from such behaviour, which will be met with severe sentences from the Courts.”
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Results for Nuku'alofa Supreme Court
Friday 30 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Wednesday 28 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sioeli Tapueluelu (37) has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of a 27-year-old whom he repeatedly hit on the head, including using a frying pan during an altercation in 2020.
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Friday 16 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Epuefi Laimani who is currently serving five-years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 5.15 grams of methamphetamine, and bribery of a police officer was denied an application to appeal against his conviction, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. However, he was granted leave to appeal his sentence.
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Thursday 15 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Prolific thief, Penisimani Tupa's application for leave to appeal against his six-years nine-months sentence was denied by the Lord Chief Justice, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, who noted the applicant's “appalling criminal history”, and that the applicant had learned nothing and therefore could not expect further leniency.
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Wednesday 14 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Wesley Fifita (29) who was convicted for possession of 0.04 gram of methamphetamine and 0.66 gram of cannabis at his house in Pili, received a suspended sentence. He must however, live with his parents, ordered a Supreme Court judge.
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Friday 9 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
David Richard Jr Hoeft was placed on good behaviour for serious bodily harm, after he punched another male police recruit for allegedly indecently assaulting a female recruit in Longolongo last year.
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Thursday 1 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Opeti Fekau (38) was today sentenced to three-years four months imprisonment for possession of 21.24 grams of methamphetamine, seized at his home in Havelu. The judge found that the amount involved was clearly for the purpose of supply.
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Friday 25 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A jury has found Sosaia Tū Maile (20) guilty of manslaughter in the death of Ned Samson Cook (67), the Salvation Army Team Leader, in Nuku'alofa in 2020.
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Wednesday 23 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosaia Fifita was found guilty today of unlawful possession of 2.36 grams of methamphetamine and 3.14 grams of cannabis. He was arrested at Tofoa, after Tonga Police received information that he was driving around his car selling the illicit drugs.
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Tuesday 22 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tailoni Mafi (39) was today jailed for 22-months for serious housebreaking and serious indecent assault committed on a young woman, who was asleep at her home in Tongatapu. In court the offender was described as “a dangerous person”.
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Monday 21 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kalatoni Kaufusi (59) was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment for possession of 0.12 grams of methamphetamine, seized by Tonga Police who received information that he was selling the illicit drug at Fanga.
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Friday 18 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sesilia Uaisele (29) was sentenced to three-months imprisonment for possession of 0.02 grams of methamphetamine, seized in a vehicle at a bus station in Nuku'alofa.
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Wednesday 16 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fale’one Sitiveni Hafoka (23) was sentenced to one-year eight-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to a 20-year-old victim, whom he injured with a coward's punch to the face, breaking his jaw. He underwent surgery to have his teeth removed and his jaws aligned with wire.
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Wednesday 16 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Toakase Kau (31) was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.92 grams of methamphetamine and 0.94 grams of cannabis. The illicit drugs were seized in car where she was a passenger.
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Monday 14 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Atapani Pangi was found guilty of possessing 183.3 grams of cannabis, while co-accused Manu Huni was convicted of permitting the use of his house at Fo'ui for this offence in 2020.
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Monday 14 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tevita Tukitoa (47) was sentenced to three-years six-months imprisonment for committing indecent assault on a child under the age of 12. “The protection of young children deserves nothing less,” said the Supreme Court judge.
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Friday 11 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Soape Ta’e’iloa Koka (52) was sentenced to two-years nine-months imprisonment for discharging a firearm with the intent to intimidate a woman, who was in her car with her 14-year-old daughter at Vaini. The judge then recommended that the defendant's gun be seized and destroyed, and that he never be allowed to hold a certificate for ammunition or firearms ever again.
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Thursday 10 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tevita Malolo (45) was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment for possessing 62.05 grams of cannabis and utensils seized at his home in Tatakamotonga, in 2020. Under an amendment to the Illicit Drugs Act, now drugs over seven grams must be sentenced as supply.
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Friday 4 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Cabinet Minister 'Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu (62) plundered TVET grant funds for themselves in a systemic fraud that a Nuku'alofa Supreme Court judge today called, “an example of the worst sort of dishonesty.”
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Thursday 3 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kautai Moala (38) and Tevita 'Alatini (37) have been jailed for possession of methamphetamine seized in Ngele'ia on September 3, 2019. “A pre-sentence report made really appalling reading that Moala is identified in the community as a supplier of drugs and uses young boys from the community to run drugs for him,” said the Supreme Court judge.
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