Results for From the Courts

Simione Ikahihifo (55) who was sentenced to serve seven and a half-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of 'Aisea Kaifa (66) in 2020, had his sentence reduced to five-years by the Appeal Court on October 1.

Repeat drug offender Pangi Puloka (47) who is currently imprisoned, was unsuccessful in his Appeal against conviction on drugs offences.

The 24 people who were arrested in July and August and charged over the seizure of an alleged 14 kilograms of cocaine in Vava‘u are pending their court appearances. No new arrests have been made.

The judgments of appeal cases heard in the second and last session of this year's Court of Appeal in Tonga will be delivered on Friday, October 1.

Sione Pouono (21) was sentenced to 32 and a half-months imprisonment for serious causing bodily harm, when he used a hammer to beat up the driver who gave him a lift, when he was hitch-hiking in Lapaha. He was currently serving time in prison for a knife attack that severed a victim's finger, that happened the day before the hammer attack.

Lisiate Lakalaka (21) was sentenced to 16-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of electronics goods valued at $10,900 pa’anga, at 'Anana. The offender had previous convictions.

Vainikolo Maile (39) who was convicted of serious indecent assault of a woman received a suspended sentence on condition, that he voluntarily be admitted to the Psychiatric Ward at Vaiola Hospital for three-months. The judge said Maile is someone who has struggled with intellectual impairment from birth and there was no system of support that was offered in his formative years.

‘Isileli and Sofia Tu’ifua (both 27) were sentenced to six-months imprisonment each, after being convicted on joint counts of possessing methamphetamine and cannabis. Their sentences were fully suspended.

Kaufusi Moala (30) was sentenced today to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.26 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was fully suspended on conditions.