Results for From the Courts

The Tongan Court of Appeal 2009 Session, which begins on Monday, June 29, will hear 21 appeal cases, probably the most made in the history of a Court of Appeal Session.

Four men who were charged with serious multiple offences relating to the destruction and damage of Nuku'alofa on November 16, 2006, were declared not guilty by a jury at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, May 6.

On the second day of a jury trial of four accused charged with multiple offences arising out of the November 16 riots, a witness told the jury on April 6, that he saw one accused smash the glass windows of the Molisi Supermarket.

One woman and four men who are accused of multiple offences relating to the November 16 destruction in Nuku'alofa: 'Ofa Simiki, 'Etuate Uata, 'Asiata Masima, 'Onitulei Manu and Kata Leleifua, pleaded not guilty to a total of 16 charges, in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning

A jury this afternoon at the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court found five men not guilty of sedition charges relating to the riots and destruction of Nuku'lofa, November 16, 2006.

Legal arguments over a comment allegedly made by accused People's Representative Sione Teisina Fuko, took up the first part of this morning's session at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

"I have made it clear in previous 16/11 cases that anyone who sets fire to a building or vehicle will go to prison even if they are first time offenders", Chief Justice Anthony Ford told Sione Mohuanga in sentencing him to two years in prison today.

A witness told the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court today that on November 16, 2006 he saw and heard the accused Siale Fihaki's speech at Pangai Si'i, where he made reference to certain properties, shortly after they were damaged.

A crown witness who initially told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court that he saw and heard the alleged speech made by defendant Tevita Fifita on television before November 16, changed his statement at the end.