Results for Supreme Court

A decision by a Magistrate to acquit a police officer on a theft charge, due to insufficient evidence, was upheld by the Lord Chief Justice, on June 25 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. However, the Chief Justice suggested the case was an example in favour of amending the Criminal Offences Act, so that cases of unauthorised borrowing or temporary use fall within the definition of theft.

'Ileana Suliana Taulua was found not guilty on five counts of making a false declaration to obtain a Tongan passport at the Supreme Court on June 11. A sixth count of possession of a forged passport was dismissed, after the Crown led no evidence. The Chief Justice also noted that an era within this country to grant passports to non Tongan nationals for considerable sums of money had led to renewals of those passports that caused significant concern.

‘Anisi Kulufeinga Bloomfield, a former CEO of the Ministry of Revenue and Customs is to be extradited to Fiji, where he is to be tried for offences of theft and dishonesty allegedly committed between 2011-14. A warrant for his arrest was issued in the Magistrate's Court of Fiji on 27 March 2018.

The Crown has been ordered by the Lord Chief Justice to return more than $30,000 pa’anga in cash to 13 Chinese people. The cash was forfeited when they were arrested during a police raid aimed at illegal gambling in 2019.

Sinela Fifita (45) who was convicted of stabbing Neiafutahi Bloomfield multiple times at Fatai five-years ago, received a fully suspended sentence at the Supreme Court.

A man was acquitted of unlawful possession of cannabis and methamphetamine by a Supreme Court judge, who found the police search unlawful. In addition, prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Lisiate ‘Otuhouma (29), charged in the seizure of three kilograms of methamphetamine at Fahefa, has pleaded not guilty at the Supreme Court.

A 32-year-old fisherman who pleaded guilty to possession of 0.61 grams of methamphetamine received suspended sentence, at the Supreme Court on April 27.

A 17-year old student has been found guilty by a Supreme Court judge for stabbing another boy in the head with a sharp object, in a school fight in Nuku'alofa, last year.