A former Prime Minister, Feleti Sevele, (Lord Sevele) won his appeal against the dismissal of his defamation case against three respondents in a radio program back in 2022. The Appeal Court has ordered a retrial.
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Results for From the Courts
Wednesday 3 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 27 November 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Saimone Vaka’s appeal arguing that his sentence was manifestly excessive was dismissed by the Appeal Court. He is currently serving two years six months imprisonment for the theft of meat valued at around $307,050.
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Wednesday 26 November 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fatafehi Tomasi’s appeal against his sentence was dismissed by the Appeal Court. He is currently serving 10 months in prison for driving a motor vehicle causing bodily harm to his passenger, while under the influence of alcohol, more than four times over the legal limit.
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Tuesday 25 November 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal by Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu, the former master of the M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa, against his two-year prison sentence, was dismissed by the Appeal Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 25 November 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tongan man and two Chinese nationals were fined $10,000 pa’anga each, after they pleaded guilty to two counts that included unlawful possession of 14,754 beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) in Talau, Vava'u, while a moratorium on its fishing was in place.
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Thursday 30 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ursula Primrose Havili (34) is serving one year’s imprisonment after being found guilty on numerous counts of obtaining $52,550 by false pretences from six customers that she would order their vehicles from Japan, in a web of deception.
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Thursday 30 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat offender, Siosaia Lata Funaki, is serving five years and five months, in prison after pleading guilty to three counts that included theft of meat from a business in Ma’ufanga and armed robbery of a foreigner, who was punched in the mouth before his iPhone and money were stolen.
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Thursday 23 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Kaufusi won his case as rightful heir to a tax allotment in Leimatu’a, Vava’u, and succeeded in his bid to evict Mano Lisala and his descendants who, the court found, were unlawfully occupying and farming on his land.
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Thursday 2 October 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kilisitina Finau (34) is serving two years in prison for charges that includes possession of 484.43 grams of cannabis. Her 23 year old co-offender, Lesieli Makasini received a suspended sentence, after being found guilty on possession of lesser amount of the illicit drugs.
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Thursday 18 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Penisoni Tu’ifua Angilau (37) is serving 10 years in prison for four charges that included supplying 534.53 grams of methamphetamine to his second cousin to pack the illicit drug at her residence in Lomaiviti, Tongatapu, in March last year. Police seized cash totalling $90,125 and a Ford Ranger Vehicle, which the court forfeited to the Crown.
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Thursday 18 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Vili Lausi’i (46) is serving three months in prison for pointing a loaded .22 semi-automatic rifle at a couple who were driving in Lapaha, while he was assisting a community night patrol in December last year. He was sent to jail by the Lord Chief Justice, who was concerned with the increase of the negative use of arms in the society and to deter others from this behaviour.
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Monday 15 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Kalonihea (31) is serving two years and two months imprisonment, while his wife Louena 'Akau'ola (29) is serving one year in prison for possession of illicit drugs, after methamphetamine was seized in Lomaiviti last year
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Friday 12 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Lapu’aho (56) is serving 10 months in prison for possession of 130.35 grams of cannabis at Fatai in February this year. He admitted that he was intending to supply the cannabis to others, when he was questioned by police.
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Thursday 11 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nofo Lata He Lotu Fasi (29) is serving two years and four months imprisonment for three counts of serious housebreaking and theft of over $200,000 cash and loud speakers from a warehouse belonging to Luna'eva & Sons Company Limited in Malapo in February this year.
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Wednesday 10 September 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Anita Toutai’olepo (45) was sentenced to life imprisonment for the importation of 81.64 grams of methamphetamine, discovered inside a coffee bottle with a plastic-wrapped package in a drum shipped from her father in the United States in 2024.
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Monday 25 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Timote Kaufusi is serving 12 months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to another man in a group attack.
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Tuesday 19 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Isitolo Sakopo and Kalafitoni Toluta’u are serving 20 months imprisonment for charges including possession of 1.91 grams of methamphetamine seized by Police, who received information they were selling drugs from their vehicle in Pahu. The court heard that when Police attempted to stop the car it crashed into the police vehicle. The police had to smash the window to turn the car’s engine off.
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Monday 18 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Ofa Tokelau, aged 53, is currently serving a six-month prison sentence for fraudulently obtaining $17,000 pa’anga. He deceived a customer by taking payment for a car that was never delivered.
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Friday 15 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fine Tevita Fifita (31), who is currently serving life imprisonment for the unlawful importation of 1157.4 grams of methamphetamine, was further sentenced on two charges of bribery after he offered money to a Police Officer and a Customs Officer in an attempt to conceal the illicit items imported.
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Monday 11 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Tukumoe’atu (28) is serving one year imprisonment for reckless driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the death of his father in Makaunga in January this year. The accused was driving at up to 140 kilometres per hour, when he struck an oncoming vehicle, lost control and crashed into an electric pole. “In passing sentence, you do not need me to tell you what this tragedy has unfolded,” the Lord Chief Justice said in passing sentence.
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