Results for From the Courts

Lesieli Namoa as a judgment debtor in a civil case brought by Siosaia Moehau was found to have assets including a lease of Loumaile Lodge, funds of $160,000 pa'anga and Sakura Company Ltd.. While Namoa claimed that she did not have a bank account, the judge noted that her income “is clouded in mystery” and it may be a device to avoid her assets and money being traced.

Pauline Langi aka Pauline Faka’osi (32) is serving 20 months imprisonment for the theft and embezzlement of $155,588 from her employer, STH Ltd a car dealer business. The offences were committed over different times when she withdrew the cash from the company's bank account. The court considered that she had a high-risk of re-offending.

Talifolau Letisi received a suspended sentence for being in charge of motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

Kisina Neiufi (33) is serving four and a half years imprisonment for possession of 3.51 grams of methamphetamine, seized with $2,800 cash in Vaotu’u. This included the activation of a one year suspended sentence for previous drug offending, he breached.

Salesi Fa’aoa (34) is serving two years in prison for receiving stolen property, valued at around $43,750, from the burglary of a warehouse belonging to a construction and road repair associated business in Tofoa.

Leave to set aside a $20 million damages “judgement in default” was granted by the Lord Chief Justice for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, its Governor and the news media whistle blowers. The current dispute is part of the ongoing litigation between the Tonga Development Bank and the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

Tevita Matangi (32) is serving four and a half years imprisonment for two charges of causing grievous bodily harm to Mateaki Hafoka (29) and Sikuvea Fifita (26), when he attacked them with a machete during a drunken altercation in Talau, Vava'u in 2023.

Kiva Kaufusi was granted a fresh Deed of Grant to his town allotment in 'Utungake, Vava’u, after a judge found that it was the Minister of Land’s mistake when he granted the land area in dispute, to his neighbour. The judge stated that this case amongst others unfortunately revealed how a simple application can create extreme consequences for all involved.

A former Deputy CEO of Tourism, Mary Magdalena Tafa Fifita was successful in her civil action, after a Supreme Court judge quashed the Public Service Commission's decision to dismiss and charge her with 27 charges of serious breach of discipline. The judge found that the charging process relied on a flawed investigation. In this case it was necessary for the PSC, to prove their charges, not for the person accused to disprove them. “The inquiry, did not ask itself the right questions,” stated the judge.