Results for From the Courts

Tevita Fetu’u (27) received a suspended sentence for causing serious bodily harm when he fractured a 25-year-old man’s jaw in an assault at a bar in Vava’u. The judge ordered that for the next 12 months he must not enter licensed premises or a bar and must not during that period drink in public. He advised the accused to give up alcohol altogether because “it seems you are unable to control yourself.”

Siosiua Savieti (22) is serving four years six months imprisonment for charges that included 127.07 grams of methamphetamine. While his co-accused Mavae Fonokalafi (19) is serving two years and six months for possession of 24.54 grams seized at a home in Talafo’ou last year.

Viliami Tino Ma’u (28) is serving 16 months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $1,848 from a store in Ma’ufanga last year.

Kulisitafu Fehoko aka Tafu Fehoko (32) is serving eight months in prison for numerous charges, including possession of 1.28 grams of methamphetamine seized in his vehicle, which was intercepted by Police in Vaololoa.

Simaima Vaha’i (33) was sentenced to 12 months probation for stealing a mobile phone worth $715.84 from her employer, Digicel Tonga in Vava’u. Initially pleading not guilty to a larger theft charge, she later changed her plea to guilty for the theft of a Samsung Galaxy A34, leading to the discharge of the first count against her.

Katieli Mahe (39) and ‘Etimoni Toumolupe (39) will serve 18 months in prison each for the theft of two rolls of copper and aluminium cables and receiving stolen property from their former employer, Tonga Power Ltd. Justice Tupou delivered the sentences on 18 March in the Supreme Court, Nuku’alofa. Mahe admitted to two counts of theft, while Toumolupe admitted to two counts of receiving stolen property.

‘Isapela Saiatua Tu’akoi faces four forgery charges, while the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa on 13 March dismissed four other counts of making a false declaration for obtaining a Tongan passport. The defendant allegedly signed forms to obtain passports for several applicants, including Shiwei Hu in October 2012.

Lesieli Namoa as a judgment debtor in a civil case brought by Siosaia Moehau was found to have assets including a lease of Loumaile Lodge, funds of $160,000 pa'anga and Sakura Company Ltd.. While Namoa claimed that she did not have a bank account, the judge noted that her income “is clouded in mystery” and it may be a device to avoid her assets and money being traced.

Pauline Langi aka Pauline Faka’osi (32) is serving 20 months imprisonment for the theft and embezzlement of $155,588 from her employer, STH Ltd a car dealer business. The offences were committed over different times when she withdrew the cash from the company's bank account. The court considered that she had a high-risk of re-offending.