Results for From the Courts

Woody Kalekale (52) was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, which was fully suspended on conditions.

Kapuana ‘Unga was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to a victim using a machete, at Ha’alaufuli, Vava’u in 2020. The judge said, “What you and the people who were with you were doing was most irresponsible and reckless that you did not stop to think of the consequences."

Salesi Fa’aoa (a.k.a. Mahelofa Tuputau) was sentenced to nine-months imprisonment for possession of 0.3 grams of methamphetamine and 22 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition, seized by Tonga Police after receiving information that he was selling illicit drugs from his car.

A 62-year-old repeat sexual offender was sentenced to eight-years and nine-months imprisonment for rape and other counts of carnal knowledge of a young person. He is a dangerous offender, revealed a pre-sentence sentence at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Viliami Paletu’a (41) was sentenced to two-years and two-months imprisonment for possession of 3.16 grams of methamphetamine, at 'Umusi in 2020. He admitted to being a substance abuser. The court noted that at the time of the offending, the statutory maximum penalty for possession of methamphetamine was a fine of $1 million or 30-years' imprisonment or both.

Matini Poafa (18) received a suspended prison sentence for causing serious bodily harm to another student whom he punched, fracturing his lower jaw, while he was asleep in a bus last year.

'Alovili Kolo (47) was sentenced to five-years 10-months imprisonment for raping a woman in Tongatapu in 2018.

‘Amusia Mateni (42) was sentenced today to 3 years and six months imprisonment for possession of 8.08 grams of methamphetamine and interfering with evidence that was seized during an altercation with a police officer on a road in Ngele'ia. The judge noted that in the accused’s current state of involvement with methamphetamines with its resultant delusional dishonesty ...“his wife and children may be better off without him.”

Kaati Luka (22) who beat up his 40-year-old partner leaving her with facial injuries that resulted in her admission to the surgical ward at Vaiola Hospital, was sentenced to one-year eight-months imprisonment.