Results for From the Courts

Lisiate ‘Otuhouma (29) was sentenced to 15-years imprisonment at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court for possession of 3 kilograms of methamphetamine at his home in Fahefa in 2019.

Sosiua Totau [25] was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for possession of 400.37 grams of cannabis, seized at his home in Tofoa earlier this year.

Tonga's Court of Appeal has acquitted Lord Tu'ivakano on two charges of making a false statement to obtain a Tongan passport and perjury, after quashing the convictions in a 22-pages written judgment released in Nuku'alofa on Friday.

'Ikani Pailate (25) has been jailed for raping a 38-year-old woman in Tongatapu last year.

‘Ilona Maria Ika (27) was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for the theft of $18,000 pa’anga from a customer’s account at ANZ Bank. Nine withdrawals were made over several months.

After completing eight and a half-years as a Supreme Court Judge of Tonga, Hon. Mr Justice Charles Cato was appointed as a King’s Counsel, during a formal but heartwarming farewell in Nuku'alofa today. By Linny Folau.

The tragic death of a local businessman, Tausinga Taumoefolau (46), in December 2019 was caused by the drunken driving of a criminal psychiatric patient, who was released because the Vaiola Hospital Psychiatric Ward was overloaded. “This case is an extremely tragic illustration and reminder of the effects on individuals and the community at large when this aspect of public health is not adequately resourced,” Lord Chief Justice M. H. Whitten QC observed yesterday, 23 October, in sentencing the offender, Lemoto Lemeki Manu (34).

An appeal by Lord Tu'ivakano against his conviction is now awaiting judgment from Tonga's Court of Appeal.

Seven men, including four teenagers, have been jailed for charges that included jointly cultivating 2665 cannabis plants (99.6 kgs) at a tax allotment in Holonga, Vava’u.