Results for From the Courts

Tailoni Mafi (39) was today jailed for 22-months for serious housebreaking and serious indecent assault committed on a young woman, who was asleep at her home in Tongatapu. In court the offender was described as “a dangerous person”.

Sesilia Uaisele (29) was sentenced to three-months imprisonment for possession of 0.02 grams of methamphetamine, seized in a vehicle at a bus station in Nuku'alofa.

Toakase Kau (31) was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.92 grams of methamphetamine and 0.94 grams of cannabis. The illicit drugs were seized in car where she was a passenger.

‘Atapani Pangi was found guilty of possessing 183.3 grams of cannabis, while co-accused Manu Huni was convicted of permitting the use of his house at Fo'ui for this offence in 2020.

‘Alipate Talau (21) of Malapo was sent to jail for three-years and six months imprisonment for serious causing bodily harm to Latu Kivalu last year. "This is a case where an imprisonment sentence is necessary, not only to punish you for the offence committed but more importantly to protect the society from you," said the judge.

Soape Ta’e’iloa Koka (52) was sentenced to two-years nine-months imprisonment for discharging a firearm with the intent to intimidate a woman, who was in her car with her 14-year-old daughter at Vaini. The judge then recommended that the defendant's gun be seized and destroyed, and that he never be allowed to hold a certificate for ammunition or firearms ever again.

Sefo Moala (52) was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for nine counts of possession of illicit drugs, including 41.82 grams of cocaine and 139.3 grams of methamphetamine. “The defendant has been a long-term menace to society," said the judge.

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.