A child sex offender was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Tonga, after the 42 year old father pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual offences to three young female children. “The Courts have a duty to protect our children from sexual predators,” said the judge.
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Results for From the Courts
Saturday 15 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Saturday 15 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Appeal Court, in allowing an appeal by the Speaker to stop a judicial review of parliamentary procedure, recommended that the Rules of Procedure of the Tonga Legislative Assembly be amended if the practice of the use of circulars to pass substantial expenditures was to continue.

Thursday 13 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fetu’utaha Sikalu (34) was jailed for charges including possession of 0.15 grams of methamphetamine seized at Ha’ateiho. While, his 22-year-old co-accused, Sefo Tonga received a suspended sentence for possession of drug utensils.

Monday 10 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fredrick Palefau was jailed for five years for armed robbery using a small axe and serious assault, with the intent to rob a 36-year-old female manager at a Fast Food restaurant at Fasi, in August last year.

Tuesday 4 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ma’ake Kali will be re-tried at the Magistrates Court for the theft of an engine valued at $7,000, from a boat anchored on the shore of Tatakamotonga, in a successful appeal by the Crown to the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, after the accused had been earlier acquitted by a magistrate.

Friday 31 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kepueli Christopher Mafi (32) was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of ‘Ahotau Taufu’i, who was walking on the side of the road at Nualei, in the early morning of 20 November 2022. The accused drove off, while the victim’s body was found by others.

Wednesday 29 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Falakiko ‘Asisi Mafi, who was serving 12 months imprisonment for reckless driving, causing the death of his wife in a road crash in 2023, had his jail time increased by the Appeal Court, in a successful appeal by the Crown that the sentence was manifestly inadequate.

Tuesday 28 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tu’utalelei ‘Atuekaho (42) was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, fully suspended, for possession of 0.15 grams of methamphetamine and drugs utensils. He was ordered to do 100 hours of community work. “Given the problems faced by our country as a result of the rise in drug related offending, a first time offender should not expect to walk off without some kind of punishment being given,” said the Judge.

Tuesday 28 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Matafonua Tupou (36) was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, fully suspended on conditions, for unlawful possession of drugs utensils, at Tu’atakilangi.

Friday 24 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five men were found guilty of charges including theft, abetment to theft and receiving stolen property after over 300 cartons of meat were stolen from a container belonging to Star Fish company, at Ma’ufanga. One of the accused was a security guard who was paid “to look the other way” over a period of months in 2022. They will be sentenced in June.

Thursday 23 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosaia Taulahi (20) and Tevita Pasi (21) were imprisoned for serious housebreaking, theft and receiving valuable Tongan handicrafts worth around $231,700, stolen from the Tonga National Museum in 2022. Pasi was also sentenced for supplying methamphetamine to a minor. He manipulated a child to become involved in a high value theft of significant cultural artefacts and used the allure of illicit drugs to do so. It was a “deeply offensive crime”, said the judge. “The vandalism of the museum was a terrible act.” Most of the items stolen were never recovered.

Friday 17 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Eva ‘Ailolo (aka ‘Eva ‘i Pomana Tau’ese) is serving nine months imprisonment for embezzlement of $72,857 pa’anga from Tonga Development Bank accounts, while working as a teller in Vava’u.

Friday 17 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Etuate Lavulavu was fined $15,000 to be paid within four weeks, after he was found guilty of contempt of court, for the comments he made when he went on a program live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube and alleged bias against a trial judge. In sentencing him on 8 May, Acting Lord Chief Justice Tupou ordered that if the defendant failed to pay the fine within the appointed time, he shall be imprisoned for two weeks.

Monday 13 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A farmer, Tu’ifua Angilau (37) was sentenced to imprisonment for possession of 1.95 grams of methamphetamine seized inside his vehicle, when Police intercepted him on a road at Tofoa. Part of the prison term was suspended.

Monday 6 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A widowed mother of seven, Mele Havea (35) received 18 months imprisonment, fully suspended, after pleading guilty to charges of impersonating a customs officer in Vava’u. The judge said it was the first case of its kind in Tonga. “If she had not been caught in time, she may have eventually been able to scam more out of the Chinese shop owners.”

Thursday 2 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosiua Vea (37) in a ruthless deception of his best friend was imprisoned for obtaining money by false pretence, when the imported double cab vehicle that was supposed to be purchased was never delivered.

Thursday 2 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sitiveni Tukuafu (28), a first time offender, was sentenced to two-years’ imprisonment with some part suspended for three charges that included possession of 4.78 grams of methamphetamine seized at Hofoa.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An action brought by Sosefo Penitani challenging the validity of a lease on his hereditary tax allotment registered in the name of another man, Pohiva Uele, claiming that his deceased father’s signature was forged, was dismissed by the Land Court, due to failure to meet the high standard of proof.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Etuate Siaosi Katoa (32) was jailed after pleading guilty to the falsification of accounts and theft of building supplies valued at $19,644 from his employer, while working as its delivery driver.

Wednesday 1 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hemaloto Manukailea (50) was sentenced to 19-months imprisonment with part suspended for causing serious bodily harm, when he punched another man, fracturing his jaw, outside a bar in Nuku’alofa, on a night out of drinking alcohol. “The public must be protected from violence and the streets of Tonga must be safe places for the community. The custody threshold has been passed; this offence is so serious only a prison sentence is merited,” the judge said.
