Results for Supreme Court

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.

Tevita Taulanga Tupou (22) had a year added to his current three-years sentence for his most recent offences of serious housebreaking and theft of Tongan mats and other items valued at $14,100 from a church in Ma'ufanga.

Four men were found not guilty on possession of methamphetamine after a drug testing report was ruled inadmissible. The illicit drugs were alleged to have been seized on 23 December, 2022 at Tu'atakilangi.

Siu Holani (30) was sentenced to 21-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 1.68 grams of methamphetamine and 5.57 grams of cannabis.

Sosefo Kanongata’a (32) was jailed for serious housebreaking and theft of over 400 perfume oils and lotions worth over $16,000 pa'anga, among other goods, from a home business in Ma’ufanga. His co-accused got suspended sentence for receiving the stolen property.