Results for Supreme Court

Kaumavae Fakaanga (35) was sentenced to seven-years imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm, when he injured a man with a machete at Tokomololo in 2021. As a result of his injuries, the complainant's left hand was amputated.

‘Alefosio Vaiangina (44) will be sentenced in July after he was convicted of housebreaking and theft of Tongan fine mats valued at $28,400 pa'anga from the Royal Palace in Vava’u.

Two Cabinet Ministers, who were found to have committed bribery in the lead-up to the November 2021 General Election, have been granted a stay of execution in their judgements, and their unseating stayed, until their appeal is heard and determined. A special Appeal Session is scheduled for July.

A third Member of Parliament, Tatafu Moeaki, will be unseated from the Legislative Assembly on 16 May. This was after the Speaker received the Supreme Court's certification that his election was void on Friday, 6 May.

The election of Tatafu Moeaki as the Tongatapu No. 4 People’s Representative to the Legislative Assembly was declared void by a Supreme Court judge today, who found that he committed bribery on two occasions, in the lead-up to the November 2021 General Election. Moeaki, the current Minister of Finance, is the second Cabinet Minister the court has found to have committed the offence of bribery under the Electoral Act.

The election of Dr Pohiva Tu’i'onetoa as the Tongatapu No.10 People’s Representative to the Legislative Assembly has been declared void by a Supreme Court judge, who this afternoon found that the former Prime Minister committed the offence of bribery on one occasion, in the lead up to the November 2021 General Election.

Pita Vakalahi (28) will be sentenced on 1 June, after he was found guilty of demanding a bribe of $640 pa'anga from a driver in a traffic offence case he worked on in 2019.

A High Court of New Zealand judgment against a former Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai and his wife Lady Helen Fulivai to pay NZD$253,370 to a creditor has been registered with the Supreme Court of Tonga, under a ruling on March 8 by Lord Chief Justice Whitten.

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.