Pousima Vaioleti (29) was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, with the last four months suspended, for the theft of a vehicle and other items valued at $50,580 from a 73-year-old man with hearing impairment in his home at Vaini. "I am quite satisfied that you have conducted a life of crime. It further seems to me, that you are not very good at it,” the Lord Chief Justice told the accused at sentencing, in the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.
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Results for sentencing
Tuesday 10 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 3 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Alifeleti Uepi Latu (33) was sentenced to four years and one month imprisonment, with a part suspended, for numerous charges, which included serious housebreaking and theft of items valued at $22,750 from a house at Tofoa. The defendant was said to be an unemployed drug user who had relied on his mother's money transfers from the United States. He had previous convictions for theft, assault, domestic violence and bodily harm.

Monday 2 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Lokotui (31) was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment with the final six months suspended for charges that included possession of 2.69 grams of methamphetamine, at a residence in Malapo.

Wednesday 21 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Isiah Takau (39) from Ma’ufanga was sentenced to serve a total of three years and nine months imprisonment for possession of 11.94 grams of methamphetamine and cultivation of 10 cannabis plants committed in two separate occasions. He also committed the second offence while on bail.

Wednesday 21 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tevita Kauvaka Loto’aniu (28) was jailed for nine months for possession of illicit drugs, including 1.42 grams of methamphetamine seized at a residence in Houmakelikao in January earlier this year.

Wednesday 21 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Manley Manu Soakai Palu (25) was sentenced to three years imprisonment, with a portion suspended, for three counts of causing bodily injury to a couple and their two year old daughter, while driving under the influence of alcohol. “The public must be protected from people who drink and drive,” stated the Judge.

Thursday 8 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kepueli Christopher Mafi (32) was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of ‘Ahotau Taufu’i, who was walking on the side of the road at Nualei, in the early morning of 20 November 2022. The accused drove off, while the victim’s body was found by others.

Thursday 8 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siena Li received a suspended sentence for possession of 0.08 grams methamphetamine and smashing a pipe used to smoke drugs, when she was arrested in a car at Ha’ateiho.

Thursday 8 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat drugs offender, Jitendra Singh was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for possession of 141.13 grams of methamphetamine and $32,050 pa'anga seized in Ngele’ia. This was in addition to 21 months prison term he was already serving for a previous drug offending.

Thursday 1 August 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Haisini Fonohema (37) was jailed for charges including possession of 1.08 grams of methamphetamine and assaulting an undercover police officer who was arresting him in Ha’alalo. His co-offender, Sosaia Palei (39) received a suspended sentence.

Tuesday 9 July 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Kioa (43) of Sopu caused serious bodily harm to a woman who was cleaning a neighbour's property, when he assaulted her with a 4ft long aluminium pipe during a verbal altercation, which was witnessed by the victim's young daughter and another woman.

Tuesday 18 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men who had counterfeit Tongan currency were caught when one used a shoddy counterfeit $20 to pay for petrol. In the Supreme Court of Tonga today, Sione Songo’imoli (44) and Tupou Haupeakui (30) received jail sentences for convictions on charges that included making counterfeit currency up to $3,605 pa'anga.

Friday 17 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Eva ‘Ailolo (aka ‘Eva ‘i Pomana Tau’ese) is serving nine months imprisonment for embezzlement of $72,857 pa’anga from Tonga Development Bank accounts, while working as a teller in Vava’u.

Monday 6 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A widowed mother of seven, Mele Havea (35) received 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended, after pleading guilty to charges of impersonating a customs officer in Vava’u. The judge said it was the first case of its kind in Tonga. “If she had not been caught in time, she may have eventually been able to scam more out of the Chinese shop owners.”

Thursday 2 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosiua Vea (37) in a ruthless deception of his best friend was imprisoned for obtaining money by false pretence, when the imported double cab vehicle that was supposed to be purchased was never delivered.

Thursday 2 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sitiveni Tukuafu (28), a first time offender, was sentenced to two-years’ imprisonment with some part suspended for three charges that included possession of 4.78 grams of methamphetamine seized at Hofoa.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Etuate Siaosi Katoa (32) was jailed after pleading guilty to the falsification of accounts and theft of building supplies valued at $19,644 from his employer, while working as its delivery driver.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hemaloto Manukailea (50) was sentenced to 19-months imprisonment with part suspended for causing serious bodily harm, when he punched another man, fracturing his jaw, outside a bar in Nuku’alofa, on a night out of drinking alcohol. “The public must be protected from violence and the streets of Tonga must be safe places for the community. The custody threshold has been passed; this offence is so serious only a prison sentence is merited,” the judge said.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Mosese Mafile’o Uasike (39) was sentenced on 23 April to eight months imprisonment, partially suspended, for charges, including possession of 0.99 grams of methamphetamine, in a drug bust at Kolomotu'a in September 2023. He concealed meth inside a vape.

Wednesday 10 April 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Aisea Havea (35) and Kaniteli Guttenbeil (33) who were caught red-handed sitting in their car with eight small packets of cannabis and a pipe in an open bag between them at Popua, were found guilty of possession and sentenced to jail terms.
