Results for From the Courts

Twenty-two people were today sentenced to a range of fines between $300 to $1100 pa'anga each for breaching the national lockdown notice, at the Mu'a Magistrate's Court. Another 20 accused will be tried next week.

Three men were acquitted of possession of methamphetamine, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges against them.

Tonga Cable Ltd. cannot pursue its full claim of over US$1.2 million for the damage that it alleges the oil tanker Duzgit Venture caused to its two undersea communications cables in January 2019, because the piece of legislation to support its claim has never been Gazetted, or come into law in Tonga.

A police officer was acquitted of bribery, after a Supreme Court judge found the evidence had not established, that he accepted money as inducement to carry out his duties.

Three men received suspended sentences and one was discharged on conditions, at the Supreme Court in an assault of a soldier at Havelu in September 2018.

'Alamoni Makafilia (33) is serving 16-years imprisonment, for armed robberies at two petrol stations in Tongatapu in 2018 where he shot and wounded two petrol station attendants.

The Crown has dropped six charges of bribery and money laundering against Lord Tu'ivakano, in relation to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals. The jury trial proceeds next week on three remaining charges against the former Prime Minister.

Lord Tu’ivakano has denied offences made against him relating to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals, when he gave evidence as the first witness for defense, on March 3.

Soane Patita Toutai’olepo (19) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for grievous bodily harm, when he threw a rock injuring another student in a school rivalry between Tupou College and Tonga College, in 2019. The Chief Justice said it was a deterrent for future rival school violence. "It is a very great shame that the defendant must start his adult years by spending a year in prison.”