Results for Supreme Court

Two men have been jailed for the theft of Tongan koloa worth over $30,000 pa’anga and a vehicle in two separate incidents. While, a co-accused received a fully suspended sentence for receiving one of the stolen goods.

Tevita Lisiate (23) of Ha’ateiho was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm, due to insufficient evidence. It was alleged that he threw a stone that caused permanent blindness in a young woman’s right eye. A rock landed on her face. She didn't see who had thrown it, said the judge. There was no evidence as to the circumstances in which Tevita Lisiate was arrested. “If these observations on basic trial preparation are ignored, then victims of crime will continue to be denied a voice in the Criminal Justice System,” said the Judge.

A 45 year old man who exported methamphetamine from Tonga is the first person to receive a mandatory life sentence under a tough new drugs law. Nomani Kama Manulevu (45) from Nukuhetulu was sentenced to life imprisonment for the unlawful exportation of 29.7 kgs of methamphetamine that was concealed in a refrigerated container to New Zealand in 2021. 

‘Ilaisaane Kolo (19) was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment for the theft of $15,000 pa’anga, which was inside a handbag she stole from a woman at her home market in Ma'ufanga.

An application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu to strike out his prosecution, claiming it was an abuse of process, was struck out by the Lord Chief Justice on 19 May. Together with his wife, 'Akosita Lavulavu they will stand a re-trial on an amended indictment. The Lord Chief Justice said the charges are serious and there is a powerful public interest in ensuring that they are tried properly, fairly and according to law.

Semisi Mala’efo’ou (16) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of a 21-year-old on ‘Eua in November 2022.

A 63-year-old man was sentenced to eight-years imprisonment with no suspension. for three charges, that included raping a woman on Tongatapu.

A 29-year-old man was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to his wife in a brutal attack using three weapons, on Tongatapu in 2022, after he became infuriated with gossip about his wife on Facebook. The judge said it was in the worst category of cases involving domestic violence that had come before the court.

Penisimani Nonu (29) received a suspended sentence for numerous counts, including forgery of health certificates to a shop owner at Tofoa in January 2022.