Results for sentencing

Siaosi Havea (28) was sentenced to three-years five-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and the theft of goods valued at $10,118 pa’anga from a shop at Poutaha. ““It is quite obvious from the defendant’s previous convictions that he is a habitual property offender and is a high risk of re-offending,” said the judge.

A 45 year old man who exported methamphetamine from Tonga is the first person to receive a mandatory life sentence under a tough new drugs law. Nomani Kama Manulevu (45) from Nukuhetulu was sentenced to life imprisonment for the unlawful exportation of 29.7 kgs of methamphetamine that was concealed in a refrigerated container to New Zealand in 2021. 

Matangi Fetu‘u‘aho (36) was jailed for 20-months for possession of drug utensils together with the activation of his 11-months suspended sentence, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Semisi Mala’efo’ou (16) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of a 21-year-old on ‘Eua in November 2022.

A 63-year-old man was sentenced to eight-years imprisonment with no suspension. for three charges, that included raping a woman on Tongatapu.

Kaufana Maile (36) was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs including 2.12 grams of methamphetamine at a home in Hala’ovave, in 2022.

Penisimani Nonu (29) received a suspended sentence for numerous counts, including forgery of health certificates to a shop owner at Tofoa in January 2022.

Eight local people in Vava’u were sentenced to between three years to 13.5 years imprisonment for their opportunistic roles in handling blocks of cocaine from a large shipment, found washed up on 'Otualea Beach there in 2021. They were caught in an investigation that started when children at Holeva picked up a brick of cocaine on the beach and handed it in to authorities.

Four men were found not guilty on possession of methamphetamine after a drug testing report was ruled inadmissible. The illicit drugs were alleged to have been seized on 23 December, 2022 at Tu'atakilangi.