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Results for From the Courts

Friday 27 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A suspended Tonga Police officer ‘Isitolo Sakopo (30) and Kaniteli Guttenbeil (32) were each sentenced to one-year 10-months imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine.
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Thursday 26 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sioeli Tapueluelu (37) was sentenced today to 12-years imprisonment for manslaughter in the death of a 27-year-old, whom he punched and hit on the head with a wok frying pan. “His history and senseless outburst of violence in this case, resulting in the death of an innocent young man, make him a serious danger to society, which this Court must strive to protect,” said Lord Chief Justice Whitten. He called the defendant’s savage attack “a gutless act of cowardice in initiating the assault.”
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Wednesday 25 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 19-year-old was sentenced on August 24 to four and a half-years imprisonment for serious sexual offences, including sodomy and serious indecent assault as well as housebreaking. The Lord Chief Justice directed the identity of the two victims must not be published in Tonga.
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Wednesday 25 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosaia Fifita (33) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for possession of 2.36 grams of methamphetamine and 3.14 grams of cannabis. He was caught after Tonga Police received information he was driving around Nuku'alofa selling illicit drugs.
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Monday 23 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosefo, aka Sione Poteki, who was driving around Tongatapu armed with a gun, while in possession of illicit drugs for sale was sentenced to three-years seven-months imprisonment.
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Friday 20 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men were today fined $2,400 pa'anga each for possession of 784 sea cucumbers, during the closed fishing season on March 10 earlier this year. The judge said that failure to pay would see them locked up for three-months in prison.
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Thursday 19 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The cases of five accused charged in relation to the cocaine seized in Vava'u have been adjourned to October 4, at the Magistrate's Court in Neiafu. The other accused remain in police custody. A total of 15 people (12 in Vava'u and three in Tongatapu) have been charged to date.
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Wednesday 18 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Misivina Tatakamotonga was sentenced to seven-years eight-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 99.47 grams of methamphetamine. The judge said it was gravely concerning that the defendant's true activities were not reflected in the indictment and there appeared to be scant investigation into the dealer list. He urged the investigating authorities “to reflect on what lines of enquiry can properly be pursued."
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Monday 16 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 24-year-old man was sentenced today to four-years and six-months imprisonment for causing grievous harm, when he hit a man on the head with an iron rod and then punched another. His co-accused received a suspended sentence for a lesser count.
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Friday 13 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Paea Fainga’a was acquitted on two counts of serious housebreaking and theft of a car in 2019 by Hon. Mr Justice Cooper in a ruling this month, after he found the evidence of the complainant, Siaosi Vete, unconvincing.
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Thursday 12 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The three foreign nationals who were arrested and charged in relation to a cocaine haul in Vava‘u, were today released on bail, at the Magistrate's Court in Neiafu. Robin and Brenda Cox, and Calvin Manuceau will be called to appear in court again on August 17.
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Monday 9 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man who raped his adult daughter has been sentenced to nine and a half-years imprisonment, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Wednesday 4 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial of a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Sione Vuna Fa’otusia is now set for September 16 on two charges, relating to interference with the course of justice and use of threatening language to a government servant, during a cow row in 2019.
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Wednesday 4 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tipiloma Funaki (52) from Fua’amotu has been jailed for possession of 0.25 grams of methamphetamine and 108.33 grams of cannabis, seized at a house in Hauloto.
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Tuesday 3 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siueli Angilau (42) was today found guilty of possession of 0.55 grams of methamphetamine seized by Tonga Police after received they information that illicit drugs were being sold from a little house in Fanga.
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Tuesday 3 August 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Filo ‘Aholelei Vaiangina (55) was sentenced to 46-months imprisonment for possession of 19.31 grams of methamphetamine, seized inside his van at Pahu.
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Friday 30 July 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosaia Tu Maile (20) was sentenced yesterday to eight-years imprisonment for the manslaughter death of Ned Cook (67), the Salvation Army Team Leader in Nuku'alofa in 2020, who was punched in the face when he was walking home from an evening out. "In that split second of senseless brutality, one life was ended and the liberty of another must now be severely curtailed," said the Chief Justice. He noted that in Tonga, some in the community tend to resort to violence to address any annoyance, no matter how small. “This case must serve to deter others from such behaviour, which will be met with severe sentences from the Courts.”
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Wednesday 28 July 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sioeli Tapueluelu (37) has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of a 27-year-old whom he repeatedly hit on the head, including using a frying pan during an altercation in 2020.
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Wednesday 28 July 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Helu was today found guilty of unlawful possession 0.04 grams of methamphetamine found hidden inside his tight pants, during a routine body search by Police, when arrested for public drunkenness.
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Friday 23 July 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A couple who have the same father have been placed on good behaviour for two-years, after they were convicted of incest at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
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