Results for From the Courts

A 57-year-old former Police Inspector and the Officer in Charge of the ‘Eua Police Station has been jailed for one-year starting today, after he was convicted of fraudulent conversion of taking fuel intended for the police vehicle for his own use.

A Supreme Court judge in Tonga, in jailing a tearful embezzler on September 6 said the crime had become commonplace in Tonga. “Embezzlement has to stop,” said Mr Justice Charles Cato, who warned stakeholders to address the problem before it was too late and companies would not operate in Tonga. “Corruption at any level or shape in Tonga needs to be wiped out,” he said.

Three of five men accused of kidnapping a father and son in Nuku’alofa in July were released on strict bail conditions on Monday, September 2 at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court.

Fifita ‘Ofa (34) is the accused mother who is charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of her 14-year-old daughter was released on bail on Monday, August 26. She appeared with her brother who is similarly charged with manslaughter and another another woman who face abetment.

A former Miss Heilala charged with embezzlement of $179,782 from her employer and theft of airline tickets worth nearly a quarter of a million pa'anga, maintained her not guilty plea yesterday, while a co-accused changed his plea and pleaded guilty to embezzlement, at the start of a jury trial.

A trial date for the Kali Fungavaka manslaughter charges is expected to be set next week at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, when six accused appear for arraignment.

A court order has suspended Tonga's Minister of Police, lawyer Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, from practising law for one year, following a recommendation of a disciplinary committee of the Tonga Law Society.

Tonga's Chief Justice Hon. Michael Dishington Scott, in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on 26 June, deferred his decision on the second of three declarations sought by a member of parliament, Sione Taione, who is calling for a judicial review of Cabinet decisions, and rejected the other two declarations.

The Crown's appeal against the dropping of manslaughter charges against three policemen, who had been charged in relation to the death of New Zealand policeman Kali Fungavaka, is being heard this week in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Charles Cato.