The Lord Chief Justice has awarded damages to a private business and its director, after ruling that Tongan Police officers and civil servants from the Ministry of Fisheries held an unlawful search for sea cucumbers, alleged to have been illegally harvested during the closed season. The police had acted on unreliable and inaccurate information and nothing was found during the search.
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Results for From the Courts
Wednesday 25 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Wednesday 25 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Daniel Bruno Moimoi (35) received a suspended sentence today at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court after his conviction on charges including the possession of 225.67 grams of cannabis seized at Tofoa, in 2019.
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Thursday 19 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An administrative decision by the Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism, Hon 'Akosita Lavulavu to decline whale watching licenses for six licenced operators was quashed by Lord Chief Justice Whitten, who found her decision had erred in law and “it was so manifestly unreasonable, no reasonable minister could have reached it”.
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Wednesday 18 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lelei Vaiangina was found guilty on possession of 0.04 grams of methamphetamine seized in a vehicle, parked outside the Central Police Station in Nuku'alofa, earlier this year. He will be sentenced on December 3.
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Tuesday 17 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Senituli Lave [30] was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.11 grams possession of methamphetamine, seized on Hihifo Road in October last year.
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Friday 13 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Similati Tupou was found guilty of possession of .1 grams of methamphetamine and 94 .22 blank ammunitions without a license at Pahu. He will be sentenced on December 14.
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Friday 13 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Master Tome Suasau [39] was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended for possession of .48 grams of methamphetamine, at 'Umusi. The court heard the door to the workplace was opened by the accused and police restrained him and started the search. Also inside were accused persons, Kuliti Tongamoa and 'Epeli Taione.
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Thursday 12 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Toio Lauteau (43) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm, when he hit his wife twice on the head with a hammer in ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua. The cut on the forehead exposed the bone of the skull.
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Wednesday 11 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lisiate ‘Otuhouma (29) was sentenced to 15-years imprisonment at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court for possession of 3 kilograms of methamphetamine at his home in Fahefa in 2019.
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Wednesday 11 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 73-year-old man was sentenced to four and a half-years imprisonment for seven counts of indecent assaults on a teenager.
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Tuesday 10 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosiua Totau [25] was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for possession of 400.37 grams of cannabis, seized at his home in Tofoa earlier this year.
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Tuesday 10 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Paula Moala aka Kenny [51] from Tokomololo was sentenced to four-years and nine-months imprisonment for possession of 25 grams of methamphetamine. $16,000 in drug proceeds was forfeited to the Crown.
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Monday 9 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Court of Appeal has acquitted Lord Tu'ivakano on two charges of making a false statement to obtain a Tongan passport and perjury, after quashing the convictions in a 22-pages written judgment released in Nuku'alofa on Friday.
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Thursday 5 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men will be tried at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court on a charge relating to the seizure of just over 2.1 kg of methamphatamine last year. Police allege that the haul had a street value in Tonga of just over $2 million pa'anga.
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Thursday 5 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Ikani Pailate (25) has been jailed for raping a 38-year-old woman in Tongatapu last year.
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Wednesday 4 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Likamani Fa’aoso was sentenced to 16-months imprisonment for possession of 165.37 grams of cannabis, at a police checkpoint in Tofoa during a routine COVID-19 inspection.
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Wednesday 4 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Ilona Maria Ika (27) was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for the theft of $18,000 pa’anga from a customer’s account at ANZ Bank. Nine withdrawals were made over several months.
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Tuesday 3 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nasif Naushad Ali (55) a Fijian citizen, who currently holds a Tongan residency permit, was jailed for possession of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine seized from his home in Kolofo'ou.
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Friday 30 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
After completing eight and a half-years as a Supreme Court Judge of Tonga, Hon. Mr Justice Charles Cato was appointed as a King’s Counsel, during a formal but heartwarming farewell in Nuku'alofa today. By Linny Folau.
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Monday 26 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An assault case was remitted back for trial at the Magistrate's Court, after the Lord Chief Justice quashed a decision by a Senior Magistrate to withdraw the charge. This was an appeal by the Crown in a case, Police vs Lose Hansen (respondent) who was charged with common assault.
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