Results for From the Courts

A civil suit filed by the Pacific Games Council and Tonga Sports Association National Olympic Committee against the Tongan Government will be mentioned on August 3, at the Supreme Court.

The two Tongan men arrested in relation to the seizure of 58 kilograms of cocaine worth around $30 million pa’anga in street value in Ha’apai have applied for bail in Nuku’alofa.

The Supreme Court of Tonga has upheld a decision of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga to revoke the banking licence of the Pacific International Commercial Bank Ltd. Lord Chief Justice O. G. Paulsen in the Supreme Court of Tonga, on 5 July 2018 dismissed a claim by the PICB bank whose shareholders include HRH Princess Pilolevu. The bank's reported accumulated losses exceeded TOP$4.5million, causing reserve bank concerns that PICB was conducting unsafe and unsound banking operations.

A Chinese resident Gao Jian is on trial for charges of illegally possessing under-sized Sea Cucumber (Loli) during the closed season in accordance to Fishery regulations.

Civil proceedings alleging unlawful payment of around USD$25.4 million to Tongasat by the Government of Tonga in 2011 for the use of its orbital slots by a Chinese company, are now awaiting judgment. Lord Chief Justice O. G. Paulsen who presided over the the week-long proceedings which, started on June 19, has not yet confirmed a date to deliver his judgment.

A civil proceeding alleging unlawful payment of around USD$25.4 million to Tongasat by the Government of Tonga in 2011 for the use of its orbital slots by a Chinese company, is being heard at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa this week. Three successive Tongan Prime Ministers will be called to give evidence.

Vilison Finau (51) the police officer charged in relation to a road death at Vaha'akolo Road roundabout on June 1, had his case adjourned to July 30 at the Fasi Magistrate's Court.

William Clive Edwards won an appeal to dismiss a Magistrate's ruling over an unsuccessful 2012 defamation action he brought against the Kele'a and its publishers. The Lord Chief Justice on June 6 in granting Edwards's appeal said the Kele'a allegations were false and it was no excuse for 'Akilisi Pohiva to write one thing while saying that he meant to refer to something else.

Four men were sentenced to prison for the cultivation and possession of 3894 cannabis plants at a substantial plantation in Matahau on May 4, 2017. Mr Justice Cato also noted that the Tongan courts are experiencing an increased number of drug prosecutions