Results for From the Courts

Tongan Cabinet Minister 'Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu (62) plundered TVET grant funds for themselves in a systemic fraud that a Nuku'alofa Supreme Court judge today called, “an example of the worst sort of dishonesty.”

Kautai Moala (38) and Tevita 'Alatini (37) have been jailed for possession of methamphetamine seized in Ngele'ia on September 3, 2019. “A pre-sentence report made really appalling reading that Moala is identified in the community as a supplier of drugs and uses young boys from the community to run drugs for him,” said the Supreme Court judge.

Matangi Fetu’u’aho (35) was sentenced to 22-months imprisonment for possession of 257.86 grams of cannabis. Tonga police found the defendant packing cannabis at a Fo'ui residence last December.

Sione Songo’imoli (40) of Popua was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment for possession of 0.08 grams of methamphetamine. This was fully suspended at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Faleu Tailoni Mafi was found guilty of serious housebreaking and serious indecent assault committed on a woman, who was asleep at her residence in Tokomololo.

Faka’osi Katoa (43) was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for possession of methamphatamine and cannabis, seized in two separate incidents in 2019-20.

Repeat drug offender, Pangi Puloka (47) was sentenced to three-years one-month imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 6.71 grams methamphetamine, at two separate incidents in 2019-20.

Vunga Fusikata (34) was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm when he punched Pita Fuoleva (45) causing permanent blindness in his left eye. "Such an act is often described colloquially as a coward's punch,” said the judge. The accused will be sentenced on June 4.

The Governor of Ha'apai, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano (46) was today fined $12,500 pa’anga for unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat seized at Queen Salote Wharf in 2020. A Supreme Court judge said the accused tried to hide the fact that he was a party to the proposed commercial sale of the uncertified meat of the endangered species. He denounced his offending: “You appear to think that you did not do anything wrong, that you were quite innocent. I want to assure you, that what you did wrong was that you failed to ask ...you ought to have refused to have possession of the turtle meat!"