Results for Supreme Court

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.

Kautai Moala (38) was sentenced to five and a half-years imprisonment for possession of 19.49 grams of methamphetamine seized at Ngele'ia. The judge said he was appalled to learn that Moala was identified in the community as a supplier of drugs and used young boys from the community to run drugs for him.

Six years prison sentences were imposed on the Lavulavu couple this morning in their sentencing at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. The judge noted that both had shown no remorse and made no attempts to repay over $500,000 pa'anga of TVET education funds they had plundered. Probation reports said 'Etuate was known to be “deceitful” and 'Akosita's dishonesty proved her true character. 'Akosita is a Minister in the Tu'i'onetoa government.

Heneli Manuofetoa (40) was sentenced today to another seven months imprisonment for possession of 0.1 gram of methamphetamine. He is currently serving time at Hu’atolitoli Prison for another drug offence.

Sione Pouono (20) was sentenced to five-years imprisonment for unlawful possession of illicit drugs and grievous bodily harm, when he severed another man's finger with a chopping knife at Lapaha. "Methamphetamine is a scourge to societies everywhere that has affected a great deal of harm and misery. The distribution and use of methamphetamine in Tonga is a significant government and community concern,” said the judge.

A 21-year-old man was sentenced at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court to three and a half-years imprisonment for two counts, including indecent assaulting a child under the age of 12 in Tongatapu.

Sione Songo’imoli (40) of Popua was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment for possession of 0.08 grams of methamphetamine. This was fully suspended at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Tupou Saulala Haupeakui (27) was sentenced today to a suspended sentence of nine-months imprisonment for possessing 0.46 grams of methamphetamine, seized at Kolomotu'a in 2020. The judge said the producers, suppliers and dealers of the drugs needed “young foolish persons like you to sell the drugs for them”.

The Governor of Ha'apai, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano (46) was today fined $12,500 pa’anga for unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat seized at Queen Salote Wharf in 2020. A Supreme Court judge said the accused tried to hide the fact that he was a party to the proposed commercial sale of the uncertified meat of the endangered species. He denounced his offending: “You appear to think that you did not do anything wrong, that you were quite innocent. I want to assure you, that what you did wrong was that you failed to ask ...you ought to have refused to have possession of the turtle meat!"