Results for Supreme Court

Haisini Fonohema (37) was jailed for charges including possession of 1.08 grams of methamphetamine and assaulting an undercover police officer who was arresting him in Ha’alalo. His co-offender, Sosaia Palei (39) received a suspended sentence.

In the Supreme Court of Tonga, Civil Jurisdiction, Mr Justice Cooper on 12 July ruled to continue an Interim Injunction in favour of the plaintiff, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in an ongoing court battle over control of the Kingdom's foreign affairs, that will lead to a judicial review hearing in September.

Fetu’utaha Sikalu (34) was jailed for charges including possession of 0.15 grams of methamphetamine seized at Ha’ateiho. While, his 22-year-old co-accused, Sefo Tonga received a suspended sentence for possession of drug utensils.

Siosaia Taulahi (20) and Tevita Pasi (21) were imprisoned for serious housebreaking, theft and receiving valuable Tongan handicrafts worth around $231,700, stolen from the Tonga National Museum in 2022. Pasi was also sentenced for supplying methamphetamine to a minor. He manipulated a child to become involved in a high value theft of significant cultural artefacts and used the allure of illicit drugs to do so. It was a “deeply offensive crime”, said the judge. “The vandalism of the museum was a terrible act.” Most of the items stolen were never recovered.

A widowed mother of seven, Mele Havea (35) received 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended, after pleading guilty to charges of impersonating a customs officer in Vava’u. The judge said it was the first case of its kind in Tonga. “If she had not been caught in time, she may have eventually been able to scam more out of the Chinese shop owners.”

Hemaloto Manukailea (50) was sentenced to 19-months imprisonment with part suspended for causing serious bodily harm, when he punched another man, fracturing his jaw, outside a bar in Nuku’alofa, on a night out of drinking alcohol. “The public must be protected from violence and the streets of Tonga must be safe places for the community. The custody threshold has been passed; this offence is so serious only a prison sentence is merited,” the judge said.

A Crown application was granted to appeal against the sentencing of Falakiko ‘Asisi Mafi (43) on the grounds that it was manifestly inadequate for reckless driving, causing the death of his Fijian wife.

Pita Talanoa (44) was sentenced to nine-years 10-months imprisonment on three separate sets of offences concerning illicit drugs including possession of 24.43 grams methamphetamine, as well as being re-sentenced for a further drugs offence. The judge said Talanoa's offending was remorseless: “He will serve a substantial sentence, because this offending deserves it. ...the public need to be protected from his venal behaviour.”

Taliai Tapueluelu (36) and Penitiketo Latu (27) are serving two-years in prison for serious causing bodily harm, when in Neiafu they repeatedly kicked an unconscious man on the head with their boots, in what the Acting Lord Chief Justice described as an outrageous abuse of police powers, when sentencing them.