Results for From the Courts

An application by Lord Luani to grant and transfer over to him Lord Nuku’s tax allotment and two of his leases, was dismissed by Justice Tupou, who, among other reasons, was not convinced this was a genuine request for directions in the Land Court.

A couple, Tomu (51) and Ma’ata Pouono (47) were found guilty of possession of 0.12 grams of methamphetamine and 7.55 grams of cannabis at their residence in Lapaha in 2023.

Sosefo Vai Mafi (20) is serving three years and three months in prison for causing grievous bodily harm to Tone Fatongiatau (28) when he repeatedly punched him on the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on a cement floor, causing a fracture to his skull.

Lautaimi Tu’itavake (40) was found guilty of charges including supplying 0.14 grams of methamphetamine, during a police undercover operation at Malapo in August 2023.

Eight young men were found guilty on charges relating to a brawl in central Nuku’alofa between two opposing groups from Ha‘ateiho and Paho last year. The charges included jointly causing grievous bodily harm to a victim from Pahu, who suffered life-endangering injuries. Seven of the accused punched and kicked the victim’s head, while another repeatedly hit the victim’s head with a sii branch, causing brain injury. The victim, died shortly afterwards.

Latanoa Fonua (21) was sentenced to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on conditions, for causing bodily injury to an 11-year-old boy at a bus station, while driving under the influence of alcohol. He was ordered to pay $2000 pa'anga as compensation to the complainant's family within 12 months.

The master of an inter-island ferry, the MV Ko e Kelesi Pe, Tevita ‘Ilangana, received a suspended sentence for proceeding to sea improperly when he permitted the vessel to sail with 141 passengers (in excess of the permitted 90 passengers) from Ha’apai to Tongatapu in 2023. The judge said that overloading his ship in this way put the passengers at risk and life could have been lost. “This is a serious matter.”

Paula Fifita (20) was sentenced to two years imprisonment fully suspended for two counts of theft that included two motor cars, with the second offence committed while on bail for the first car theft. The judge said that the root cause of the offending was the misuse of alcohol.

Sione Talafekau Maloni (20) was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment fully suspended for causing serious bodily harm, when he poured gasoline over his sleeping friend’s clothes and set him alight, in what was said to have been “a joke”. Mercifullly, the friend suffered only superficial burns to his abdomen.