Results for From the Courts

Tamasi Kailahi, (23) of Holonga, Tongatapu, walked out a free man from the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on March 2, after a jury dismissed the Murder and Causing grevious bodily harm charges against him.

A man accused of murder will face trial by jury in the Supreme Court of Tonga on 25 February 2004.

The first marijuana case to be tried under Tonga's tough new Illicit Drugs Control Act was dismissed by Chief Justice Ward at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on December 8.

An Australian woman, Mandy Millar, was ordered to serve a 14 day prison sentence in Tonga for contempt of court, during a custody battle over her four year old daughter.

The Tongan Member of Parliament, 'Etuate Lavulavu, who was arrested in the United States on October 1, returned to Tonga on 24 October 2003.

The Oceania Broadcasting Television Network was fined Tongan $750, and its two presenters, Sangstar Saulala and Semisi Kailahi were also fined T$500 each for defaming the former Minister of Justice, Tevita Tupou.

The failure of the Crown to win a court case against the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper continued last week with the dismissal by a jury in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on September 3 of a criminal defamation case against Mateni Tapueluelu, the Editor of the Taimi 'o Tonga.

‘Akilisi Pohiva, the controversial, Tongatapu no. 1 People’s Representative to the Tongan parliament won his most serious court battle ever when a jury cleared him and his associates on May 19 on charges of crimes against the state. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.