The trial against current Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu is going ahead, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there is a criminal case to answer against both of them on all three counts. They are jointly charged with obtaining over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences, relating to a number of irregularities in an audit at the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute. It is alleged that the couple knowingly falsified student applications in order to claim TVET grants.
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Results for Supreme Court
Wednesday 12 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 11 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Alifeleti Uasi (18) was sentenced today to 18-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm, when he injured a shopkeeper with rocks at a Chinese shop. He was drunk and was denied getting a can of soda, which he did not have enough money for. The judge said it was clear that the accused had a very real problem with alcohol.

Friday 30 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Toutai Mafile’o was sentenced to two-years imprisonment, which was fully suspended for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to his passenger in 2020 at Mu'a. He was intoxicated.

Wednesday 28 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tangata 'o Pangai (a.k.a. Pinomi Lavemai) was sentenced to 14-months imprisonment for possession of 1.63 grams of methamphetamine. The Chief Justice said, the nature and surrounding circumstances of this offending pointed to a case of possession for the purpose of supply.

Monday 26 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat offender, Creed (Kuliti) Tongamoa has been sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for possession of 0.17 grams of methamphetamine and possession of an unlicensed high powered assault rifle and ammunition.

Thursday 22 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Uinise Toke (36) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for grievous bodily harm, when she repeatedly struck her 33-year-old partner with a machete, on his head and hands. The sentence was fully suspended on condition.

Thursday 22 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Alovili Kolo (47) was sentenced to five-years 10-months imprisonment for raping a woman in Tongatapu in 2018.

Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Amusia Mateni (42) was sentenced today to 3 years and six months imprisonment for possession of 8.08 grams of methamphetamine and interfering with evidence that was seized during an altercation with a police officer on a road in Ngele'ia. The judge noted that in the accused’s current state of involvement with methamphetamines with its resultant delusional dishonesty ...“his wife and children may be better off without him.”

Tuesday 13 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial against a current Cabinet Minister and People’s Representative to Parliament, ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, also a former Cabinet Minister, started on April 12 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. The couple have pleaded not guilty to three joint counts of obtaining a total of over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences.

Monday 12 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kaati Luka (22) who beat up his 40-year-old partner leaving her with facial injuries that resulted in her admission to the surgical ward at Vaiola Hospital, was sentenced to one-year eight-months imprisonment.

Wednesday 7 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Manavahetau Fua’eiki (42) who was convicted of possession of methamphatamine was sentenced to one-year nine-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended on conditions at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

Thursday 1 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lilieta Tu’itupou (30) who assaulted her 54-year-old mother with a machete remains jailed for three-months, after appealing against her sentence to the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa. The judge said, this was a very sad case involving an adult daughter assaulting her mother.

Friday 26 March 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In light of recent media reports that the Courts are imposing more suspended sentences due to overcrowding in Tonga's prison system, the following clarification is provided for the information of the public and better understanding: 1. The Courts do not suspend sentences because of prison overcrowding. 2. Provision of adequate prison facilities and related services is the responsibility of the Executive Government. 3. Upholding the rule of law and administering justice in the Kingdom is the responsibility of the Judiciary and the Courts. .... Michael Whitten QC, Lord Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Thursday 4 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Asaeli Teulilo (32) is serving eight months imprisonment for possessing 1.3 grams of cocaine and 0.1 gram of cannabis. The Lord Chief Justice warned that harsher penalties are expected on any offences committed after November 26, 2020, involving more than 0.25 grams of a Class A drug, because they are deemed as supply.

Monday 1 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new Supreme Court judge, Hon Justice Nicholas Cooper, from the United Kingdom, was today welcomed at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC said that, like so many countries around the world, Tonga remains in the grip of very serious challenges posed by illicit drugs and the Courts continue to play their part in endeavouring to protect all the people of Tonga.

Friday 26 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Police Tactical Response Group fired a pistol at the tyres of a meth offender in car chase, the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court was told by witnesses. Pangi Puloka (47) was found guilty of possessing 4.34 grams and 2.17 grams of methamphetamine, at Mata-ki-'Eua in 2020, after he tried to run down police officers, who were standing on a road to stop him.

Friday 26 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Suliana Fate (21), who was convicted of knocking-out a man with a stick while drunk, before stealing his vehicle in Ma'ufanga, received a suspended jail sentence, together with two other co-accused.

Thursday 25 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Soane was found guilty of three counts of uttering counterfeit currency at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. He will be sentenced on April 1. The $50 and $100 were obviously fake “the notes represented a patently amateurish attempt,” said the judge.

Wednesday 10 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The forgery trial against a current Cabinet Minister and People’s Representative to Parliament ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate is now expected to start in April.

Friday 5 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Foketi Tonga Fate was acquitted of possessing 41.51 grams of cannabis by the Lord Chief Justice, who said the Crown failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt in the evidence of the charge against the accused.
