Results for From the Courts

A trial to hear an election petition filed against Hon ‘Etuate Lavulavu for alleged illegal practices that was to start this month has been deferred pending his appeal against a ruling by the Chief Justice not to have a jury trial.

Vilisoni Angilau (21) was sentenced to prison for up to 15-years for the death of another Tongan Sione Fakatoufifita (19) during a fatal shooting two-years ago in Salt Lake City.

Tonga’s Public Service Association Inc. and the Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva have been granted a stay on a Court Order that required them to lodge $20,000 pa'anga each in security costs to the courts before they could take action against Tongasat.

Seluvaia Motuliki (39) who pleaded guilty for fraudulently converting over $31,159 while working as a civil servant, had her sentence reduced on 21 April from two and a half year to one year three months.

A trial to hear an election petition filed against Hon ‘Etuate Lavulavu for alleged illegal practices will be heard by a Supreme Court judge without a jury in Vava‘u on July 13-31, 2015.

Bullying and mob violence have no place in any civilised society, a judge said yesterday in sending three former Tupou College students to lengthy prison terms for their part in a violent attack on a home in Tofoa that severely injured a young man on 18 July 2013.

The trial of two policemen charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of ‘Inoke Pepa (20) in Vaini in 2012 began this week, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

The Kele’a newspaper can have its appeal heard at the Supreme Court against damages and costs awarded to William Clive Edwards in a defamation case but they must first pay $14,500 in damages, plus costs and interest before proceeding.

Tonga’s Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Crown against a fully suspended sentence imposed on Sau’iluma Guttenbeil, who was convicted of manslaughter at the Supreme Court.