‘Alaponi Vaomotou (46) was sentenced to three-years nine-months imprisnment for causing serious bodily harm, when he injured his neighbour on the arm with a machete, at Fou'i. The judge said it was his second conviction for a machete attack. “I consider Mr Vaomotou poses a real danger to the public, consequently none of his sentence will be suspended."
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Results for From the Courts
Monday 22 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday 19 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Semisi Mala’efo’ou (16) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of a 21-year-old on ‘Eua in November 2022.

Wednesday 10 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 50-year-old man was sentenced to an aggregate 30-months imprisonment sentence on three charges of serious indecent assaults of a teenager on Tongatapu.

Friday 5 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 63-year-old man was sentenced to eight-years imprisonment with no suspension. for three charges, that included raping a woman on Tongatapu.

Thursday 4 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rajh Kumar (33) received a suspended sentence for attempting to destroy evidence, namely methamphetamine, during a road drug bust by Police at Haveluloto in 2021.

Thursday 4 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 29-year-old man was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to his wife in a brutal attack using three weapons, on Tongatapu in 2022, after he became infuriated with gossip about his wife on Facebook. The judge said it was in the worst category of cases involving domestic violence that had come before the court.

Tuesday 2 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kaufana Maile (36) was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs including 2.12 grams of methamphetamine at a home in Hala’ovave, in 2022.

Thursday 27 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Matangi Malupo (35) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of goods, including Tongan crafts valued at around $11,600 from a home in Ma’ufanga.

Tuesday 25 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Penisimani Nonu (29) received a suspended sentence for numerous counts, including forgery of health certificates to a shop owner at Tofoa in January 2022.

Friday 21 April 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosifa Vailima Tuita (52) was sentenced to 12-years imprisonment for manslaughter of his twin sister in Falaleu, Vava'u, last year. During sentencing today, Lord Chief Justice Whitten KC said the accused stabbed his sister multiple times with a knife, “in what can only be characterised as a heinous and tragic crime of extreme brutality.”
Thursday 20 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ma’ili Finau (35) was re-sentenced and convicted on two counts, including the unlawful importation of two .22 rifles from New Zealand to Vava'u, after the Appeal Court quashed a Supreme Court sentence that discharged him without conviction.

Tuesday 18 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A prolific armed robber, Rodney Toki (27), must serve another two years in prison, to be added onto a 12 years sentence he is already serving, the Appeal Court ruled this month. “This is one of those rare cases where there is little if any hope of his rehabilitation. The protection of society requires that he remain imprisoned for a lengthy period, which properly reflects the total seriousness of his two distinct bouts of criminal offending," stated the Appeal Court ruling.

Friday 14 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tevita Taulanga Tupou (22) had a year added to his current three-years sentence for his most recent offences of serious housebreaking and theft of Tongan mats and other items valued at $14,100 from a church in Ma'ufanga.

Tuesday 11 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal against a judgment of the Supreme Court, which awarded $50,000 damages to Mele Teusiva ‘Amanaki, in a long winding defamation suit against the Tonga Weekly newspaper and its former editor, Faka'osi Maama, was dismissed last week, by the Court of Appeal in Nuku'alofa. They published articles and a photograph on three occasions in 2014.

Thursday 6 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Appeal Court has dismissed an appeal by Paula Piveni Piukala and another, on the dismissal of their application for judicial review against a decision by the Supervisor of Elections, in regards to Lord Nuku’s election as a Noble's Represenatative. However, clause 65 of the constitution is concerned only with the qualification of Representatives of the People and does not apply to Nobles’ Representatives.

Thursday 6 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Uaine Palesi Fa (27) was sentenced to imprisonment by the Appeal Court, after overturning his suspended sentence initially imposed by the Supreme Court in 2022, for possession of 28.55 grams of cocaine in Vava'u.

Wednesday 5 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Moala ‘Ikani (31), Nukutefua Teu (36) and Tevita Pasi (20) who pleaded guilty to charges, including possession of methamphetamine and cannabis seized at Hofoa last month, received suspended sentences at the Fasi Magistrate's Court.

Tuesday 4 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Eight local people in Vava’u were sentenced to between three years to 13.5 years imprisonment for their opportunistic roles in handling blocks of cocaine from a large shipment, found washed up on 'Otualea Beach there in 2021. They were caught in an investigation that started when children at Holeva picked up a brick of cocaine on the beach and handed it in to authorities.

Wednesday 29 March 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first session of Tonga's Court of Appeal 2023 is being held this week with judgments expected to be delivered next week, before the Easter long weekend. A new Appeal Judge, Hon. Justice Philip Morrison joins this session.

Friday 24 March 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Uhila Tu’i (34) was sentenced today to 33-months imprisonment, on charges including carrying a firearm to resist arrest, when he shot at and missed a police officer during the search of a home, at Hala'ovave, Tongatapu, in 2021. The Chief Justice said the accused could have been charged with attempted murder.
