Results for From the Courts

LORD Lasike, the Speaker of the Tonga Parliament was apprehended by police after his arrival at Fua'amotu International Airport today January 19.

Justice Robert Shuster convicted a 48-year-old father from Ha'ateiho on charges of incest and indecent assault on the offender's two daughters in 2008 in Tongatapu.

Tonga's Chief Justice Hon Michael Dishington Scott has ordered a warrant of arrest for Lord Lasike the Speaker of Parliament, after he defied the conditions of a court order and breached his bail when he travelled to the USA in November and has not returned to Tonga.

Polonga Tau'alupe (20), from Pahu, Kolofo'ou, was sentenced to three years suspended sentence and put on an all night curfew for six months and banned from driving for seven years, by Justice Robert Shuster at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, on December 6.

The Speaker of Parliament Lord Lasike appeared before Justice Shuster in closed chambers today after he failed to turn up in open court this morning for arraignment.

The Speaker of the Tongan Parliament, Lord Lasike is expected to appear at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa today on the charge of unlawful possession of ammunition for .22 rifles.

A Crown appeal against sentences initially imposed on the Ashika captain Makahokovalu Tuputupu and the first mate Semisi Pomale was upheld by the Court of Appeal and resulted in a reduction of their sentences.

John Jonesse, who was serving five years imprisonment in Tonga's Huatolitoli Prison for conviction arising from the tragedy of the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry, was released immediately this afternoon, September 30 following a successful appeal against the length of his sentence.

Tevita Kelepi of Nukunuku, a sufferer of mild mental retardation who pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the death of his 18-year-old brother whom he hit with an axe on the head in 2004, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on September 29.