Results for From the Courts

The Tokaikolo Church (Siasi Tokaikolo 'ia Kalaisi) claimed back the ownership of church buildings on a property in Kolomotu'a that was being used by a break away congregation, after winning an appeal against a 2017 Supreme Court decision, on March 26. The appeal was against Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Kava Fa’oliu, Sione Maile, Mo'ui Fo'ou 'ia Kalaisi Fellowship and the Minister of Lands.

Six local Tongan law practitioners received mediation training last week from Tonga’s Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen and from one of New Zealand’s leading mediators John Hardie. They were trained to assist people in resolving disputes quickly and inexpensively, rather than having cases go unnecessarily to court.

Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu, former Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu, and a former Prime Minister and a former Speaker of Tonga's Legislative Assembly, Lord Tu'ivakano will appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court on 26 March.

Lord Tu'ivakano was released on bail this morning after he appeared at the Tonga Magistrate's Court in Nuku'alofa. He was represented by Clive Edwards.

The Tonga Supreme Court has acquitted a teenager on charges of knowingly having consensual intercourse with a 14-year girl in 2017. The court accepted that the accused, who was 18 years old at the time, believed that the girl was 17 years and would not have had sexual intercourse with the girl if he knew she was 14. The girl became pregnant as a consequence.

Tonga’s first Court of Appeal session is expected to begin on March 19, in Nuku’alofa.

A 24-year old man has been detained in custody to be sentenced on two counts of rape committed in 2013, after being convicted at the Supreme Court.

The Tonga Land Court has blocked a calculated attempt by a female leaseholder to evict her brother’s widow and children from her brother's family home in Kolomotu'a. Mr Justice Paulsen ruled yesterday 30 January that “It would be unjust to require her to move".

Talakai Aholelei (66) – the driver of the bus which crashed in New Zealand in 2016 killing three Tongan nationals – was sentenced to 5½ months’ home detention by a New Zealand court on Wednesday. Talakai was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay $36,000 in emotional reparations. The bus was carrying 53 people, mostly members of a brass band from Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College in Vava’u – who were touring New Zealand to raise funds.