Results for Supreme Court

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.

Mafoa'aeata Latu (26) was sentenced to three-years and three-months imprisonment after being convicted for reckless driving that caused the death of his passenger ‘Aisake Lavelua on Hihifo Road at Fo'ui, in March this year.

Two teenage boys charged with murder in relation to the death of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, in February pleaded not guilty on August 7, during arraignment at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

A man in his 20s from Nakolo has been sentenced to six-years imprisonment after being convicted of sodomy and abducting a child under the age of 12, for an offence committed in Tongatapu last year.

A civil proceeding alleging unlawful payment of around USD$25.4 million to Tongasat by the Government of Tonga in 2011 for the use of its orbital slots by a Chinese company, is being heard at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa this week. Three successive Tongan Prime Ministers will be called to give evidence.

Two men received imprisonment sentences on May 29 at the Supreme Court, after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis that included seeds found to have been germinating, possibly for cultivation.

A civil action, filed by a couple who allege false representations were made that they would be granted a lease of a beach in Vava'u for tourism purposes, will be defended by the Governor of Vava'u and the Government of Tonga, after a judgment by default was set aside last week.

A 67-year-old man charged with attempted carnal knowledge on a child will appear for trial, at the Supreme Court on May 1.

Six local Tongan law practitioners received mediation training last week from Tonga’s Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen and from one of New Zealand’s leading mediators John Hardie. They were trained to assist people in resolving disputes quickly and inexpensively, rather than having cases go unnecessarily to court.