The Tokaikolo Church (Siasi Tokaikolo 'ia Kalaisi) claimed back the ownership of church buildings on a property in Kolomotu'a that was being used by a break away congregation, after winning an appeal against a 2017 Supreme Court decision, on March 26. The appeal was against Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Kava Fa’oliu, Sione Maile, Mo'ui Fo'ou 'ia Kalaisi Fellowship and the Minister of Lands.
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Results for From the Courts
Tuesday 27 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 26 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan noble and former Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano had his case adjourned to April 23 after appearing at the Fasi Magistrate’s Court today, where the Crown revealed he will face additional counts relating to unlawful possession of a firearm.
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Tuesday 20 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Six local Tongan law practitioners received mediation training last week from Tonga’s Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen and from one of New Zealand’s leading mediators John Hardie. They were trained to assist people in resolving disputes quickly and inexpensively, rather than having cases go unnecessarily to court.
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Wednesday 14 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Court of Appeal will preside over its first session for the year next week, from March 19-23.
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Monday 12 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu, former Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu, and a former Prime Minister and a former Speaker of Tonga's Legislative Assembly, Lord Tu'ivakano will appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court on 26 March.
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Monday 12 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A two decade long land dispute between two brothers ended last Tuesday 6 March after the Tonga Land Court dismissed the rights of the older brother (The Plaintiff) to re-claim two plots of land that he legitimately inherited because he had taken too long to take legal action against his youngest brother and nephew who had illegitimately re-registered the lands in their name.
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Friday 2 March 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Tu'ivakano was released on bail this morning after he appeared at the Tonga Magistrate's Court in Nuku'alofa. He was represented by Clive Edwards.
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Monday 26 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An escaped convict, ‘Amoni Fifita (34), was sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Tonga Supreme Court for the armed robbery of a store in Kolovai last year 2017. The getaway driver and father of 16 children, Pakileata Fukofuka (48), was sentenced to 3½ years jail with 18 months suspended.
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Saturday 24 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Supreme Court has acquitted a teenager on charges of knowingly having consensual intercourse with a 14-year girl in 2017. The court accepted that the accused, who was 18 years old at the time, believed that the girl was 17 years and would not have had sexual intercourse with the girl if he knew she was 14. The girl became pregnant as a consequence.
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Wednesday 21 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Chief Justice Paulsen of the Tonga Land Court scolded the Minister of Lands Hon. Ma’afu in a ruling of a land dispute case on 5 February. The ruling dismissed a decision by the Minister of Lands to regrant land registration to an overseas based Tongan man. The man wanted to evict his niece who had been living on a town allotment in Fanga for more than 40 years.
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Friday 9 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s first Court of Appeal session is expected to begin on March 19, in Nuku’alofa.
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Thursday 8 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hateni Kaufusi (32) who is charged with murder in relation to the death of Tolifili Tu'alau (27), appeared at the Nukunuku Magistrate’s Court on February 8, and was moved to Hu'atolitoli Prison until February 15.
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Friday 2 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 24-year old man has been detained in custody to be sentenced on two counts of rape committed in 2013, after being convicted at the Supreme Court.
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Thursday 1 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hekisou Fifita (48) who pleaded guilty and was convicted of carrying a .22 rifle inside a bar in Nuku’alofa with the intention to commit an offence, received a fully suspended sentence on January 26, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Wednesday 31 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Land Court has blocked a calculated attempt by a female leaseholder to evict her brother’s widow and children from her brother's family home in Kolomotu'a. Mr Justice Paulsen ruled yesterday 30 January that “It would be unjust to require her to move".
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Monday 29 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A former administration officer for the Tanoa Hotel in Nuku'alofa, Selemana Fonua (39), was found guilty of false accounting and theft of $21,299 pa’anga by the Tonga Supreme Court. She awaits sentencing on 19 February 2018.
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Monday 29 January 2018
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Auckland, New Zealand
Talakai Aholelei (66) – the driver of the bus which crashed in New Zealand in 2016 killing three Tongan nationals – was sentenced to 5½ months’ home detention by a New Zealand court on Wednesday. Talakai was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay $36,000 in emotional reparations. The bus was carrying 53 people, mostly members of a brass band from Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College in Vava’u – who were touring New Zealand to raise funds.
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Tuesday 23 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Etuate Lavulavu is to pay Viliami Latu the sum of $69,319.90 after Justice O. G. Paulsen on 8 January 2018 dismissed an application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu for the Supreme Court to change a “Consent Order” that came into effective on 11 August 2017. The judge ruled that "Mr Latu is entitled to say 'enough is enough'."
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Tuesday 9 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An "authoritative and dominating" father of five, Sunia Mailau (45), was convicted of committing incest, rape, assault and indecent acts against his teenage daughter. He was sentenced following trial, to over 9 years’ imprisonment by Judge C.B. Cato of the Tonga Supreme Court on 17 December.
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Friday 29 December 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A dispute by two of the sons of the four Wight brothers who had co-leased a property in central Tongatapu, highlighted the need for the Ministry of Lands to review the drafting of such leases and how to deal with them upon the death of co-lessees, President Owen G. Paulsen of the Land Court of Tonga, stressed in a decision on 18 December 2017. His decision also showed that family members cannot automatically assume entitlement to a lease on the death of the lessee, without having followed the requirements of the Probate Act, which requires an application for Letters of Administration of a deceased's estate.
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