Results for Supreme Court

Heneli Manuofetoa (40) was sentenced today to another seven months imprisonment for possession of 0.1 gram of methamphetamine. He is currently serving time at Hu’atolitoli Prison for another drug offence.

Sione Pouono (20) was sentenced to five-years imprisonment for unlawful possession of illicit drugs and grievous bodily harm, when he severed another man's finger with a chopping knife at Lapaha. "Methamphetamine is a scourge to societies everywhere that has affected a great deal of harm and misery. The distribution and use of methamphetamine in Tonga is a significant government and community concern,” said the judge.

A 21-year-old man was sentenced at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court to three and a half-years imprisonment for two counts, including indecent assaulting a child under the age of 12 in Tongatapu.

Sione Songo’imoli (40) of Popua was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment for possession of 0.08 grams of methamphetamine. This was fully suspended at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Tupou Saulala Haupeakui (27) was sentenced today to a suspended sentence of nine-months imprisonment for possessing 0.46 grams of methamphetamine, seized at Kolomotu'a in 2020. The judge said the producers, suppliers and dealers of the drugs needed “young foolish persons like you to sell the drugs for them”.

The Governor of Ha'apai, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano (46) was today fined $12,500 pa’anga for unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat seized at Queen Salote Wharf in 2020. A Supreme Court judge said the accused tried to hide the fact that he was a party to the proposed commercial sale of the uncertified meat of the endangered species. He denounced his offending: “You appear to think that you did not do anything wrong, that you were quite innocent. I want to assure you, that what you did wrong was that you failed to ask ...you ought to have refused to have possession of the turtle meat!"

The trial against current Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu is going ahead, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there is a criminal case to answer against both of them on all three counts. They are jointly charged with obtaining over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences, relating to a number of irregularities in an audit at the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute. It is alleged that the couple knowingly falsified student applications in order to claim TVET grants.

Toutai Mafile’o was sentenced to two-years imprisonment, which was fully suspended for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to his passenger in 2020 at Mu'a. He was intoxicated.

Repeat offender, Creed (Kuliti) Tongamoa has been sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for possession of 0.17 grams of methamphetamine and possession of an unlicensed high powered assault rifle and ammunition.