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Results for From the Courts

Thursday 22 December 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two former police officers who are in jail for common assault, after they punched and kicked a defenceless 21-year-old in Vava’u, will not be allowed to appeal their sentences. President of the Appeal Court, Lord Chief Justice Whitten, in his ruling on 12 December rejected their applications, as they had no reasonable prospects of success.
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Thursday 22 December 2022

Auckland, New Zealand
A trusted church pastor, Siosateki Tonga Faletau, was revealed as using his position to abuse several young girls, over many years. Faletau who was jailed for two years and three months, lost his appeal for permanent name suppression, after it was heard in the High Court at Auckland.
Monday 12 December 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ryan Vakaahi (29) was sentenced to three-years four-months imprisonment for causing bodily harm, when he shot another man on his thigh with a .22 rifle at 'Anana.
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Wednesday 7 December 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Koionia Latu ‘Ekuasi (32) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for forgery and obtaining over $20,000 pa'anga by false pretences, when she misused money for her sister's wedding. Three other charges related to a separate fake car dealer business scam, where the offending was a planned financial criminal enterprise, orchestrated over a period of at least 15-months and bilked money from three separate victims.
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Monday 21 November 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men were jailed for possession of methamphetamine and drug utensil, after they were arrested under a tree in Nukunuku. A third co-accused received suspended sentence.
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Monday 21 November 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Brown (22) was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment for possession of 222.69 grams of cannabis seized at a home in Fanga.
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Wednesday 16 November 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Halalilo and Tukumo’ui Havea have been jailed for common assault when they punched and kicked a defenceless 21-year-old man in Neiafu, Vava’u.
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Friday 4 November 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Halalilo and Tukumo’ui Havea have been found guilty of common assault, when they punched and kicked a 21-year-old victim in Neiafu, Vava’u. “They indulged in sheer hooliganism and behaviour and not keeping with the dignity and high standards of the Tongan Police Force,” said the Supreme Court judge.
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Wednesday 2 November 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Solomone Fualalo (52) received a suspended sentence for common assault and serious causing bodily harm, when he hit a 23-year-old victim on the back of his head with a torch at Niutoua.
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Wednesday 2 November 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siuta Taufa (25) was sentenced to four-years six-months imprisonment for reckless driving causing the death of his 20-year-old male passenger at Malapo in 2021. He was driving in excessive speed, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
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Monday 31 October 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nesiasi Kamoto (49) received a suspended sentence for discharging a .22 rifle to intimidate his relatives, who were living at his tax allotment in Tofoa.
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Wednesday 26 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Salesi Vea (29) was re-sentenced and jailed for four-months for assaulting his wife at Te'ekiu, after a Supreme Court judge quashed his suspended sentence imposed in the lower court. The judge said the initial sentence was manifestly inadequate as it failed to properly take into account the level of violence and that there had been repeated assaults by Vea against his wife.
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Tuesday 25 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Solomone Fonokalafi (45) was sentenced to two-years eight-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm, when he beat his wife's hands and feet with a hammer, while tying her down at a home in Fo’ui last year. The defendant's actions were cruel and barbaric and have no place in Tongan society or its marriage norms, said the Lord Chief Justice.
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Monday 24 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ma’ili Finau who pleaded guilty to importing two .22 rifles and not declaring them to Customs was discharged with conviction, at the Supreme Court. In making the discharge the Judge said he considered how the offence arose and also the defendant's good character.
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Saturday 22 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A former Senior Customs Officer, Paula Naitoko (68), was sentenced on 21 October to six-years imprisonment for importing a substantial amount of methamphetamine and firearms, concealed in a box from the United States in 2019.
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Saturday 22 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Okusitino Penisimani Tatafu (50) was sentenced this week to seven-years and eight-months imprisonment for possession of 249.74 grams of cocaine seized in Vava'u in 2021. A jury earlier found him guilty of carrying a significant amount of cocaine. The police drugs taskforce was waiting for the defendant in a hotel room where an informer said the buyer was staying.
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Thursday 20 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A prolific offender, ‘Okusitino Langi (49), who is serving a lengthy prison term for drug offences, received additional time for similar offending in prison, totalling nine-years imprisonment, after being sentenced on 14 October. The Lord Chief Justice said the circumstances of this offending were troubling. “For the defendant to have been able to possess and sell drugs in prison suggests real operational deficiencies in security within the prison.”
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Thursday 20 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat offender Hateni Kaufusi (35) was sentenced to 34-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of tool shed items estimated at $11,840. His co-accused Kulikefu Vanisi (54) got a suspended sentence for abetment.
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Thursday 13 October 2022

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Appeal Court dismissed an appeal by Lord Fohe who was trying to evict Ve'etutu Mahe from a piece of land on his estate at Puke, Tongatapu.
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Wednesday 12 October 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Viliami Wight (27) and Samiuela Mahina (22) have been jailed for possession of 6.8 grams and 1.14 grams of methamphetamine respectively, seized at a residence in Veitongo by Tonga Police, who suspected their drug dealing in 2021.
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