Results for From the Courts

Two men accused of housebreaking after they entered a woman’s home posing as police officers were found guilty on March 19, and will be sentenced on April 17, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

A former senior Tongan Immigration officer and a woman co-accused were jailed today in relation to the attempted forgery of two Tongan blank passports by a Supreme Court judge who said that corrupt scams goes the heart and impugn the integrity and security of Tonga’s passport regime and machinery of border control - which has the potential to bring Tonga into disrepute in the eyes of foreign countries.

A couple who have been charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of their six-month-old baby boy earlier this month were released on bail on February 24. The baby is alleged to have been sick for three-days and died at home from dehydration before the parents took him to Vaiola Hospital.

Nakita Tu’itavake (51) of Kolomotu’a, who was charged earlier this month with possession of cannabis and ammunition, has been released on bail until March 10.

A Magistrate in Nuku’alofa is expected to decide on February 18 whether there is a case for committal to the Supreme Court against two Chinese nationals charged in relation to the forgery of Tongan passports. Police reported that the woman accused had tried to leave Tonga allegedly on a forged Tongan passport after they both entered on Chinese passports on October 11, 2013.

A direction on the Tongan Supreme Court on how to process a civil case that was brought by the former Attorney General, John Cauchi against the Kingdom of Tonga is expected to be announced today, Friday, January 31. The trial by jury was halted in November because the failure of all concerned to sufficiently prepare for the trial had left the court and the jury in an "impossible position," the Chief Justice has stated.

A suspended Police Constable Valeliano Manu (33) and two foreign nationals, Chinchiu Liu (aka Kevin Liu) (31), and ShiQing Lin (32) were jailed on January 21 for over five years for importing over 2 kilos of the controlled chemical pseudoephedrine. A fourth man was jailed for possession. The case involved the importation and possession of a cold remedy known as “contac NT”.

Fifita 'Ofa, a mother whose faces manslaughter charges over the death of her 14-year-old daughter, was released on bail after the case was adjourned to 21 January 2014, to allow the Crown to review the evidence and decide on appropriate charges.

A suspended Police Constable Valeliano Manu and two accused Asian nationals were found guilty for the importation of the controlled chemical pseudoephedrine, a precursor to manufacture the illicit drug methamphetamine. They are remanded in custody for sentencing in January 2014.