Results for From the Courts

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.

Siolosi Hu’akau (21) who was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of a woman on the road in Talafo’ou, was sentenced to three-years imprisonment. He suffers from physical and mental handicaps and it was extremely regrettable that he was even allowed to drive a vehicle in the first place, said the Lord Chief Justice today.

Manavahetau Fua’eiki (42) who was convicted of possession of methamphatamine was sentenced to one-year nine-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended on conditions at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

Lilieta Tu’itupou (30) who assaulted her 54-year-old mother with a machete remains jailed for three-months, after appealing against her sentence to the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa. The judge said, this was a very sad case involving an adult daughter assaulting her mother.

Limoni Tito Siasau was found guilty of serious indecent assault committed on a 33-year-old female worker on board a yacht in Vaipua, Vava'u.

The recently appointed Governor of Ha’apai, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano (46) was found guilty today of unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat, confiscated in a cargo onboard the MV 'Otuanga'ofa ferry last year. The Supreme Court judge did not believe the former Member of Parliament’s evidence that he did not know the requirement of the law. “Ignorance of the law is not a defence to any offence.”

Malia Selupe (32) will be sentenced on April 9 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on five counts of obtaining by false pretences around $59,000 pa’anga from customers at her car dealer company in Longolongo.

‘Inivenesi Helu (39) is serving one-year imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm to a 17-year-old teenager by using a machete during an altercation, in Nuku'alofa.

‘Asaeli Teulilo (32) is serving eight months imprisonment for possessing 1.3 grams of cocaine and 0.1 gram of cannabis. The Lord Chief Justice warned that harsher penalties are expected on any offences committed after November 26, 2020, involving more than 0.25 grams of a Class A drug, because they are deemed as supply.