Results for Supreme Court

A former Deputy CEO of Tourism, Mary Magdalena Tafa Fifita was successful in her civil action, after a Supreme Court judge quashed the Public Service Commission's decision to dismiss and charge her with 27 charges of serious breach of discipline. The judge found that the charging process relied on a flawed investigation. In this case it was necessary for the PSC, to prove their charges, not for the person accused to disprove them. “The inquiry, did not ask itself the right questions,” stated the judge.

Palatoni Laimani (37) is serving six years and six months in prison for possession of 155.90 grams of methamphetamine, seized in a police raid at his home in Hofoa. “It stands to reason that Mr. Laimani was dealing with others more heavily involved in illicit drug supply and so in turn, he forms part of serious organised criminal network,” stated the Judge.

‘Ofa Tongia (27) is serving 12 months imprisonment and ‘Ilaisaane Kolo (23) seven months imprisonment for drugs and utensils offences. Their co-accused received a suspended sentence for possession of utensils.

Maka Sole Funaki (38) was jailed for nine months for the theft of a red Massey Ferguson tractor worth at $56,200 and possession of a 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition in two separate offences on Tongatapu.

Taulanga Nonu was jailed for five and a half years for serious housebreaking, theft and serious arson of the Teta Tours building in the Central Business District. His co-accused, Molitoni Moimoi was sentenced to three years and two months in jail. The Lord Chief Justice considered that Nonu had destroyed property worth no less than $1 million, while Moimoi had a deplorable history of previous offending.

Siaosi Halaholo Vete (42) was sentenced to two years imprisonment for three charges including serious housebreaking and theft of property totaling at around $46,798 from his sister’s home, in order to feed his methamphetamine habit.

Lautaimi Tu’itavake (40) was found guilty of charges including supplying 0.14 grams of methamphetamine, during a police undercover operation at Malapo in August 2023.

The master of an inter-island ferry, the MV Ko e Kelesi Pe, Tevita ‘Ilangana, received a suspended sentence for proceeding to sea improperly when he permitted the vessel to sail with 141 passengers (in excess of the permitted 90 passengers) from Ha’apai to Tongatapu in 2023. The judge said that overloading his ship in this way put the passengers at risk and life could have been lost. “This is a serious matter.”

Damages amounting to over $20 million pa’anga in total were awarded to the plaintiffs, the Tonga Development Bank and its CEO 'Emeline Tuita and Board Chairman, Penisimani Vea, in a landmark "judgment in default" by made by the Lord Chief Justice Bishop on 23 September, against the Reserve Bank, its Governor, a local broadcaster and a journalist.