Results for From the Courts

Penisimani Foukimoana Koli Moa (33) was imprisoned for one year and eight months, after he entered the Emerald Hotel and pointed a .22 pistol at the forehead of an employee. “The defendant foolishly thought it appropriate to carry in his trouser pocket an unlicensed .22 pistol, while out drinking,” stated the judge.

Epworth Laimani was sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of 13.27 grams of methamphetamine seized in Sopu and other charges. This includes the activation of a suspended sentence of 12 months, which he breached.

Two men and one woman were jailed for possession of 20.92 grams and 13.52 grams of methamphetamine seized in a police raid outside a restaurant in Houma. In sentencing the trio at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, Lord Chief Justice Bishop said Methamphetamine is a serious scourge in Tonga. “Considering the current increase of illicit drugs in the community, deterrence and with it punishment, is of greater priority than rehabilitation.”

Bosco Fakatava (19) is serving six months imprisonment after pleading guilty to robbery of a cell phone and cash totaling over $2,000 from a victim whom he assaulted in 2024. His co-accused, who pleaded not guilty, awaits a verdict.

Amy Leger (35) who worked as a nanny for the King’s niece and her family received a suspended sentence for three counts of forgery and one of theft when over three months in 2023, she withdrew a total of $10,000 pa'anga by using her employer's pre-signed blank cheques without authorisation.

‘Asaeli Niu’ila (96) who resides in Wellington, was successful in his action to evict occupants from his town allotment in Niutoua, after being granted judgment in the Nuku'alofa Land Court on 18 June. The judge said that this was an unfortunate case, where one of the defendants had simply misunderstood the arrangement between the plaintiff and his late parents or was misled as to his interests or rights over this land.

Fatafehi Tomasi (22) is serving 10 months imprisonment for injuring a passenger, while driving under the influence of alcohol . When his loaded car crashed into another vehicle, after a night out in a bar in the Nuku'alofa CBD, he fled the scene.

Seteone Mu’asika (26) is serving six months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm, when he struck a 17 year old on the back with a machete, in an alcohol-fuelled attack at Lapaha in July last year. A co-accused, who escaped, has not been caught by Police. The Chief Justice said the Court must do all it can to stamp out the increasing use of machetes during disagreements.

Toni ‘Alatini (23) is serving 15 months in prison for striking Sosefo Taufa with a machete on his left arm, resulting in serious injuries in an unprovoked attack in Veitongo.