Mikaele Hoponoa Pahulu (42) was sentenced to 11 years and 7 months imprisonment for manslaughter in a sadistic, brutally violent attack on a frail 71-year-old patient at the Psychiatric Ward in Vaiola Hospital. “This was manslaughter just short of murder, possibly only because that was not charged. Why murder was not charged has never been explained,” said the Supreme Court judge. “It is just barbaric.” Another person stood alongside, watched and walked away leaving the victim unconscious on the ground.
You are here
Results for Supreme Court
Saturday 15 January 2022
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Premium content
Friday 17 December 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Poni ‘Ahohako (26) was found guilty of serious housebreaking and causing serious bodily harm, when he hit Ramsay Dalgety on the head with a teapot, when he broke into his home on February 8 this year, at Ha'ateiho.
Premium content
Tuesday 30 November 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tupou Haupeakui who is charged with possession of equipment in relation to an offence against the Illicit Drugs Control Act was remitted to the Magistrate's Court for re-trial before another Magistrate, after his case was dismissed at the lower court. The prosecution brought this appeal to the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court against a decision of Magistrate Tu'akalau on 6 July this year.
Premium content
Thursday 4 November 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Halatu’u Palei was fined $450 pa’anga or in default face one month imprisonment for unlawful importation of a .22 rifle and 1080 rounds of ammunition seized in Vava'u.
Premium content
Thursday 14 October 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kepilini Pole’o (28) was sentenced to 16 months-imprisonment for destruction of evidence and possession of 0.13 grams of methamphetamines seized at Vaini. This was fully suspended on conditions.
Premium content
Thursday 30 September 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lafitani Mahe who is currently serving a prison term for housebreaking and theft received an additional time for possession of illicit drugs, after being sentenced at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today. His co-accused received a suspended sentence.
Premium content
Friday 24 September 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rick Riechelmann (60) was sentenced to 21-months imprisonment for possession of cannabis seized at his home in Fangaloto. The sentence was fully suspended after the judge considered the health issues the defendant faced. The defendant admitted he was smoking cannabis for pain relief and taking it palliatively.
Premium content
Thursday 9 September 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Soane Papaa (28) who pleaded guilty to cultivating one cannabis plant at Lapaha was ordered to carry out 40-hours of community service. Because it was a single cannabis plant there was no evidence of any intention to supply, said the Supreme Court judge.
Premium content
Friday 3 September 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kepilini Pole’o was found guilty of possessing 0.13 grams of methamphetamine seized at a residence in Vaini, after Tonga Police raided a house, after receiving information that drugs were being sold from there. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC found the accused guilty on the possession offence on September 1, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court
Premium content
Tuesday 31 August 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Vola Tuaimeitu’a (59) has been found not guilty and acquitted on charges relating to the importation of firearms without a license. The firearms were seized in a crate, which arrived from the United States in January, 2020. The judge said "The defendant did everything in his power to get a licence in a timely way.”
Premium content
Monday 30 August 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Netane Taufa (29) was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for cultivation of 23 cannabis plants that were seized at a residence in Nukunuku. The sentence was fully suspended on conditions.
Premium content
Wednesday 18 August 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Misivina Tatakamotonga was sentenced to seven-years eight-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 99.47 grams of methamphetamine. The judge said it was gravely concerning that the defendant's true activities were not reflected in the indictment and there appeared to be scant investigation into the dealer list. He urged the investigating authorities “to reflect on what lines of enquiry can properly be pursued."
Premium content
Wednesday 4 August 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial of a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Sione Vuna Fa’otusia is now set for September 16 on two charges, relating to interference with the course of justice and use of threatening language to a government servant, during a cow row in 2019.
Premium content
Tuesday 3 August 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siueli Angilau (42) was today found guilty of possession of 0.55 grams of methamphetamine seized by Tonga Police after received they information that illicit drugs were being sold from a little house in Fanga.
Premium content
Wednesday 28 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Helu was today found guilty of unlawful possession 0.04 grams of methamphetamine found hidden inside his tight pants, during a routine body search by Police, when arrested for public drunkenness.
Premium content
Friday 23 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A couple who have the same father have been placed on good behaviour for two-years, after they were convicted of incest at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
Premium content
Wednesday 21 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kalafitoni Toluta’u (43) was found guilty today of possession of 2.80 grams of methamphetamine seized at a tax allotment in 'Utulau on July 28, 2018. He will be sentenced on September 15, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
Premium content
Monday 19 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kautai Moala (38) who is serving five-years imprisonment for possession of 19.49 grams of methamphetamine seized at Ngele'ia, was denied bail pending his appeal.
Premium content
Wednesday 14 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Atapani Pangi (33) received a sentence of two-years and four-months imprisonment for possession of 183.3 grams of cannabis, seized at a house in Fo'ui. His co-accused, who owned the house also received a suspended sentence.
Premium content
Tuesday 13 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Filimone To’aho (40) was sentenced to one-year jail for the theft of over $17,767 pa’anga, which he borrowed and misused to purchase 20 vehicles from Japan. By May this year, he repaid most of the money and received a suspended sentence.
Premium contentPages
Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.