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Results for From the Courts

Friday 18 March 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ernie Fotu (43) received a suspended sentence for possession of 15.54 grams of cannabis at the Magistrate Court.
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Monday 14 March 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A High Court of New Zealand judgment against a former Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai and his wife Lady Helen Fulivai to pay NZD$253,370 to a creditor has been registered with the Supreme Court of Tonga, under a ruling on March 8 by Lord Chief Justice Whitten.
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Thursday 10 March 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Timote ‘Aho’atu (44) was sentenced to two-years nine-months imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm to Siaosi Na'a, whom he shot with a pistol in 2021. The judge said the law required the accused to complain to the police if he felt that the victim had unfairly and unlawfully done him wrong. "That law stops you and prohibits you from punishing or killing that person who has wronged you.”
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Friday 4 March 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two women, including a 41-year-old police officer, were found guilty on a joint charge of advertising a pyramid scheme, where people who invested money did not receive the return promised. They will be sentenced on May 3 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Friday 4 March 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 38-year-old man was acquitted on two charges of serious indecent assault on a teenager committed in Tongatapu in 2021. The judge did not believe the evidence of the complainant.
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Monday 21 February 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kotoni Tafolo (17) was acquitted of possessing 0.21 grams of methamphetamine due to insufficient evidence, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 1 February 2022

Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Motesio Vaioleti (33), who knew he was driving with faulty brakes with his children in the vehicle, and crashed into another vehicle, was fined $300 pa’anga. Mr Justice Niu “This offence is serious,” said the Judge who recommended that the Legislature heavier penalties be legislated for this offence, because there are many vehicles on the road, “we should not wait until a life is lost,” he said.
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Monday 31 January 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tulapa Samoa Pese (38) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to a 22-year-old man with a machete at Lapaha. The judge found that the defendant carefully calculated and planned his attack. The way he carried out the attack was chilling, they ambushed the victim. “This is not only brutal; it is a cowardly behaviour to attack an unarmed person,” he said at the sentencing.
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Monday 31 January 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man in his 40s was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment for three counts of serious indecent assault of a minor aged 12 years old, in Tongatapu. Hon. Mr Justice Cooper ordered there be no publication of any detail that could lead to the identification of the victim in this case.
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Friday 28 January 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An intoxicated driver, Siuta Taufa (25), who was speeding to get home before the midnight curfew, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of his passenger in an accident on Taufa‘ahau Road, at Malapo in July 2021. They had had been drinking alcohol and taking methamphetamine. He awaits sentencing.
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Saturday 15 January 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Mikaele Hoponoa Pahulu (42) was sentenced to 11 years and 7 months imprisonment for manslaughter in a sadistic, brutally violent attack on a frail 71-year-old patient at the Psychiatric Ward in Vaiola Hospital. “This was manslaughter just short of murder, possibly only because that was not charged. Why murder was not charged has never been explained,” said the Supreme Court judge. “It is just barbaric.” Another person stood alongside, watched and walked away leaving the victim unconscious on the ground.
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Friday 24 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Melekiola Tu’ipulotu, who was convicted of serious bodily harm for using a machete on a 16-year-old boy, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, fully suspended for two-years at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. "I hope that this decision sends a message to our people not to take up a helepelu and use violence to make their points. Self-control is a necessary duty we must all demonstrate as responsible citizens in leading our families and communities," said the Acting Chief Justice.
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Friday 17 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Poni ‘Ahohako (26) was found guilty of serious housebreaking and causing serious bodily harm, when he hit Ramsay Dalgety on the head with a teapot, when he broke into his home on February 8 this year, at Ha'ateiho.
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Thursday 16 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment for two counts of serious indecent assault of a young girl in Tongatapu. Being the breadwinner for his family did not entitle the accused to a full suspension of an imprisonment sentence because of the seriousness of the sexual offence that he had committed, said the judge.
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Wednesday 8 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Okusitino Penisimani Tatafu (49) is the man who was arrested in Neiafu, when Police seized 254.72 grams of cocaine on November 14. He remains in police custody, until January 2022.
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Tuesday 7 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men were convicted of murder, after repeatedly beating a father and seasonal worker, Fanaafi Misifani, on the head with metal pipes, at Holonga on 5 October 2019. A third man was convicted of manslaughter. The accused all aged in their 20s, will be sentenced on 17 December 2021.
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Wednesday 1 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three men who were convicted of the string of armed robberies at three Chinese run shops in Tongatapu, in January earlier this year have received lengthy jail terms. Rodney Toki (27), Taniela Pohahau (27) and Tuiaki Muli Pahulu (23) were sentenced on November 29, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Tuesday 30 November 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tupou Haupeakui who is charged with possession of equipment in relation to an offence against the Illicit Drugs Control Act was remitted to the Magistrate's Court for re-trial before another Magistrate, after his case was dismissed at the lower court. The prosecution brought this appeal to the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court against a decision of Magistrate Tu'akalau on 6 July this year.
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Monday 29 November 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Ana Katokalala Siale (38) who is currently serving time in Hu'atolitoli Prison was sentenced to serve an additional six-months imprisonment for the housebreaking and theft of $10,650 pa'anga worth of Tongan handicrafts in 2020. She is currently serving two-years six-months imprisonment for two previous convictions of similar offences.
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Monday 22 November 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siu 'i Vahanoa Tu’ipulotu (49) was sentenced to two and a half-years imprisonment for serious housebreaking and robbery at a store in Ma'ufanga, where he punched the complainant several times, before stealing goods. The judge said that the accused's own alcoholic self-destruction was becoming more dangerous not only to himself and his family, but also to the community because he was repeatedly demonstrating dark, violent behaviour.
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