Haisini Fonohema (37) was jailed for charges including possession of 1.08 grams of methamphetamine and assaulting an undercover police officer who was arresting him in Ha’alalo. His co-offender, Sosaia Palei (39) received a suspended sentence.
You are here
Results for From the Courts
Thursday 1 August 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Thursday 18 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa sentenced ‘Okona ‘One’one (31) to four years imprisonment, with some part suspended, for charges including possession of 5.04 grams of methamphetamine at his home address in ‘Anana. The possession of scales and over 540 dealer-bags made it clear this was possession with intent to supply; so far more serious than simple possession, stated the judge.

Thursday 18 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In the Supreme Court of Tonga, Civil Jurisdiction, Mr Justice Cooper on 12 July ruled to continue an Interim Injunction in favour of the plaintiff, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in an ongoing court battle over control of the Kingdom's foreign affairs, that will lead to a judicial review hearing in September.

Friday 12 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosina Vakasiuola (30) was found guilty on two charges of obtaining money by false pretences, when she received $47,000 from two customers, who signed contracts with her for the importation of vehicles, which never materialized. “Miss Vakasiuola was not a convincing witness and I conclude that she has lied to the Court," stated the judge.

Tuesday 9 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Kioa (43) of Sopu caused serious bodily harm to a woman who was cleaning a neighbour's property, when he assaulted her with a 4ft long aluminium pipe during a verbal altercation, which was witnessed by the victim's young daughter and another woman.

Wednesday 3 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The National Reserve Bank of Tonga has been prohibited from publicly disseminating their directions, contained in a letter sent to the Tonga Development Bank on 17 May and 20 May, which was allegedly leaked in a radio broadcast. The Supreme Court of Tonga, Civil Jurisdiction, has granted the Tonga Development Bank (the Plaintiff/Applicant) leave for a judicial review. Among other things, the TDB is alleging possible damage to the reputations of the CEO Mrs Emeline Tuita and TDB Board Chairman Mr. Penisimani Vea.

Monday 1 July 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An application by the Tonga Development Bank for an “ex parte” injunction, seeking return of the materials seized in a police search of its premises in May, was refused by a Supreme Court judge. The applicants claimed that the seizure went beyond the scope of the warrant and included documents “belonging to Project Polata'ane”. A judge ruled that if this is to be pursued it must be made ‘inter partes’ meaning both parties present, since the urgency of the matter claimed was not demonstrated.

Tuesday 18 June 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men who had counterfeit Tongan currency were caught when one used a shoddy counterfeit $20 to pay for petrol. In the Supreme Court of Tonga today, Sione Songo’imoli (44) and Tupou Haupeakui (30) received jail sentences for convictions on charges that included making counterfeit currency up to $3,605 pa'anga.

Saturday 15 June 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Saturday 15 June 2024
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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
Premium content
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.
