Results for theft

Sosaia Vatikani (40) was jailed for serious housebreaking and theft of property, including electrical goods, worth $15,200 pa’anga, from the Nursing School at Vaiola Hospital, in Nuku'alofa - where he left a trail of fingerprints.

'Alifeleti Uepi Latu (33) was sentenced to four years and one month imprisonment, with a part suspended, for numerous charges, which included serious housebreaking and theft of items valued at $22,750 from a house at Tofoa. The defendant was said to be an unemployed drug user who had relied on his mother's money transfers from the United States. He had previous convictions for theft, assault, domestic violence and bodily harm.

Siosaia Taulahi (20) and Tevita Pasi (21) were imprisoned for serious housebreaking, theft and receiving valuable Tongan handicrafts worth around $231,700, stolen from the Tonga National Museum in 2022. Pasi was also sentenced for supplying methamphetamine to a minor. He manipulated a child to become involved in a high value theft of significant cultural artefacts and used the allure of illicit drugs to do so. It was a “deeply offensive crime”, said the judge. “The vandalism of the museum was a terrible act.” Most of the items stolen were never recovered.

A man charged with two counts that included the theft of a vehicle from the Vaiola Hospital car park was found not guilty, although there was evidence that he was a passenger in the stolen car. The Supreme Court judge stated that two of the Crown witnesses 'Miki" Taulaki and Moala 'Ikani should have instead been charged with the offences.

Sione Taulua (36) was sentenced to one-year eight-months imprisonment for the theft of items valued at $13,600 from a home that his father was looking after at ‘Alakifonua, while the owners were abroad in July last year.

Habitual property offender, Siaosi ‘Ulukivaiola (25) a prisoner, got more jail time for breaking into the Ministry of Revenue office and stealing laptops and other property worth $34,650. His two co-offenders who received the stolen property were also sentenced to jail, with one sentence suspended.

Seinivunga Lafo’ou (30) was sentenced to 20-months imprisonment, partially suspended, for forgery and theft of around $34,000 from her employer, National Rugby League Tonga, taken from a bank account in 46 systematic unauthorised withdrawals over 13-months. She tried to frame her co-worker for the theft. The funds stolen were a grant from the Government of Australia for the development of NRL in Tonga.

Siaosi Havea (28) was sentenced to three-years five-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and the theft of goods valued at $10,118 pa’anga from a shop at Poutaha. ““It is quite obvious from the defendant’s previous convictions that he is a habitual property offender and is a high risk of re-offending,” said the judge.

Viliami Tu’ipulotu and Heneli Manuofetoa have been found guilty of receiving stolen property, namely laptops stolen from the Ministry of Revenue in 2022.