Results for From the Courts

A man accused of reckless driving has been found not guilty in relation to a fatal car crash in Pahu last year that left a driver dead. The accused was alleged to have been in a “race” with the victim. However Hon. Justice Cato in the Supreme Court of Tonga on 25 October, dismissed the charge as he said there was no sufficient evidence.

A 29-year-old man who has been convicted of raping a victim who was asleep at her home in Tongatapu last year, is in custody to be sentenced on October 24.

Talakai 'Aholelei (65) has pleaded guilty before a New Zealand court for the careless driving of a bus, which resulted in a crash outside Gisborne on Christmas Eve last year. The crash claimed the lives of three Tongan nationals: Sione Taumalolo (11), Talita Fifita (33) and Leotisia Malakai (55).

The New Zealand High Court has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Luigi Havea (of Tongan descent) to 10 years and 3 months imprisonment for kidnapping and manslaughter in relation to death of a 50-year-old woman in Auckland last year.

The Tokaikolo Church (Siasi Tokaikolo ‘ia Kalaisi) has failed to claim ownership over church buildings used by a dissenting congregation in Kolomotu’a. The Tokaikolo Church was seeking control over the property because the Kolomotu’a congregation and their minister had joined a breakaway church called the Mo’ui Fo’ou Fellowship (Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘ia Kalaisi). The property includes the land where the church buildings stand.

Three men, convicted of rape and attempted rape in separate cases that took place in Tongatapu last year, awaits sentencing at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Paula ‘Eukaliti (23) who filed a claim against former employer Puloka Construction Ltd. won $19,962.50 compensation in the Supreme Court, after the middle and index fingers of his right hand were severed above the second joints, during a work accident in 2014.

The Land Court of Tonga has stopped a man from evicting his aunty from his registered land in Ma'ufanga. The man’s Aunt (52) had been living on the town allotment for all of her life. The court on last week ordered the Minister of Lands to cancel the man’s deed of grant over the property after it was ruled that the Minister and his officers did not make sufficient enquiries into the availability of the land before it was registered to the nephew.

Tu'italakitai Afuha'amango from Kolofo'ou was sentenced to five-years for charges including forgery in relation to an application for a Tongan passport.