Results for Supreme Court

Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) today pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder in relation to the death of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen who were found dead with multiple stab wounds at a bush allotment last year. A co-accused Sami Kaho Jr. (15) will now become a witness for the Crown, after charges against him were dismissed.

A 42-year-old man, who was sentenced to nine-months imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court in October for stealing a generator, had his sentence quashed after his appeal to the Supreme Court was allowed.

A man who admitted purchasing and smoking meth, after pleading guilty to possession of illicit drugs, was discharged without conviction after a judge found he had 0.52 grams of methamphetamine left in a small bag, when police searched his trousers pocket. In acquitting Maika Maile (38) Justice Niu considered the amount of meth was “so infinitesimal”.

A 16-year-old boy who assaulted and robbed a Chinese shopkeeper in February this year was discharged without conviction by a Supreme Court judge on November 26 in Nuku'alofa who considered that: “a conviction for such a serious offence as robbery will be far more detrimental than the injury and theft he committed to the complainant."

A 20-year-old man who was convicted of raping a woman last year in Tongatapu will be sentenced on November 26, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

A 34-year-old taxi driver was acquitted of raping a 27-year-old mother after taking her to a bush area in Tokomololo in October last year.

A Public Service Tribunal has been ordered by the Supreme Court, to re-determine for the second time an appeal by Busby Kautoke against the termination of his employment as Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, in a legal dispute that has been ongoing for six-years.

Siaosi Helu (33) who was found guilty of possessing 39.65 grams of cannabis was sentenced to one-year and six-months imprisonment. Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said society was calling for and expected a strong response from the courts.

Prosecutions for illicit drugs in Tonga may be in jeopardy, a judge has warned, after discharging a man charged with possession of methamphetamine, due to the prosecution's failure to admit analyst evidence, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa on August 29. Hon. Mr Justice Cato said new legislation is urgently required in Tonga regarding analyst evidence of drug identity or there will be serious consequences for law enforcement and the health of Tongans.