Results for Supreme Court

Samiu Mafi was ordered to serve a sentence of one-year imprisonment for drugs offences imposed by the Magistrates Court, after his appeal was dismissed when he failed to demonstrate that the ruling was wrong.

Siutaka Siua (29) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for serious causing bodily harm when he stabbed a 20-year-old man on his thigh at Ma’ufanga.

Paea Kalisitiane (19) was sentenced to imprisonment for charges including possession of 1.29 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Tokomololo. Her 24-year-old co-offender received a suspended sentence on a lesser charge.

A consistent drug re-offender, Sione ‘Ala (26) was sentenced two-years five-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs including methamphetamine, in two separate offences, involving vehicles in Nuku’alofa. 

'Akimeta Tu’utafaiva (40) was jailed for causing serious bodily harm in a drunken violent outburst at Kolofo'ou, when he injured his 20-year-old nephew, causing a permanent disability on his left index finger. The judge said that it was unclear why the full extent of the dangerous and violent outburst, apparently involving attacks on property and an attempt to injure another with the machete, was not fully indicted.

Liuaki Fainu (23) who was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment, for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer in Vava’u had his sentence fully suspended on conditions. The officer who suffered a broken leg, in December 2022, awaits bone reconstruction experts from Australia next month who will operate to re-connect his fractured femur.

Kali Malupo (57) who was convicted of grievous bodily harm, when he struck a 24-year-old man on the head using a machete at Manuka on eastern Tongatapu, was sentenced to six and a half-years imprisonment, while his two sons received a lesser jail sentence for common assault in a group attack on the victim. The judge said their attacks “revealed levels of anger and violence going far beyond...argument of self-defence.” For Kali “the clear intention was to kill Filihai Li.”

The re-trial of multiple charges against former government ministers, ‘Etuate and ‘Akosita Lavulavu, is adjourned to start on 30 October, after Acting Justice Langi rejected a proposal that it be deferred to early 2024, at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, citing various reasons for urgency to proceed.

Malakai Fonua (25) was sentenced to 22-months imprisonment with the final 10-months suspended on conditions for charges of possession of illicit drugs, including 1.74 grams of methamphetamine.