Viliami Tu’ipulotu and Heneli Manuofetoa have been found guilty of receiving stolen property, namely laptops stolen from the Ministry of Revenue in 2022.
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Results for From the Courts
Thursday 17 August 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 7 August 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Nuku'alofa bar owner has lost an Appeal in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court and failed to have charges that emanated from a police entry to be set aside. The licensee was appealing against the decision of a Magistrate who declared that Tonga Police had lawfully entered the Billfish Bar premises. In his judgment on 4 August, the Lord Chief Justice agreed with the Magistrate that the Police constables' entry to the bar was lawful under Section 70 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act.
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Friday 28 July 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Supreme Court of Tonga has ruled in favour of a civil claim brought by the Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs against the Public Service Commission, who unlawfully initiated serious disciplinary action against her. In his ruling the Lord Chief Justice Whitten KC. considered that there were many problems with the regulations - saying the wording in some regulations is "nonsensical". He also said the PSC was in breach of a requirement to appoint a CEO for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Friday 28 July 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Feleti Ulakai, who challenged the election of People's Representative Piveni Piukala last year, has lost an appeal against the dismissal of his petition by the Supreme Court of Tonga.
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Wednesday 5 July 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Temipale Tatafu (36) was sentenced to 30-months imprisonment for serious housebreaking, theft and serious wilful damage of goods valued over $10,000 pa’anga of another man at Fangaloto in 2022.
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Wednesday 5 July 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Ilaisaane Kolo (19) was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment for the theft of $15,000 pa’anga, which was inside a handbag she stole from a woman at her home market in Ma'ufanga.
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Friday 26 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Matangi Fetu‘u‘aho (36) was jailed for 20-months for possession of drug utensils together with the activation of his 11-months suspended sentence, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 23 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu to strike out his prosecution, claiming it was an abuse of process, was struck out by the Lord Chief Justice on 19 May. Together with his wife, 'Akosita Lavulavu they will stand a re-trial on an amended indictment. The Lord Chief Justice said the charges are serious and there is a powerful public interest in ensuring that they are tried properly, fairly and according to law.
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Monday 22 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Alaponi Vaomotou (46) was sentenced to three-years nine-months imprisnment for causing serious bodily harm, when he injured his neighbour on the arm with a machete, at Fou'i. The judge said it was his second conviction for a machete attack. “I consider Mr Vaomotou poses a real danger to the public, consequently none of his sentence will be suspended."
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Friday 19 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Semisi Mala’efo’ou (16) was sentenced to three-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of a 21-year-old on ‘Eua in November 2022.
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Wednesday 10 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 50-year-old man was sentenced to an aggregate 30-months imprisonment sentence on three charges of serious indecent assaults of a teenager on Tongatapu.
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Friday 5 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 63-year-old man was sentenced to eight-years imprisonment with no suspension. for three charges, that included raping a woman on Tongatapu.
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Thursday 4 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rajh Kumar (33) received a suspended sentence for attempting to destroy evidence, namely methamphetamine, during a road drug bust by Police at Haveluloto in 2021.
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Thursday 4 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 29-year-old man was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment for causing serious bodily harm to his wife in a brutal attack using three weapons, on Tongatapu in 2022, after he became infuriated with gossip about his wife on Facebook. The judge said it was in the worst category of cases involving domestic violence that had come before the court.
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Tuesday 2 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kaufana Maile (36) was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs including 2.12 grams of methamphetamine at a home in Hala’ovave, in 2022.
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Thursday 27 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Matangi Malupo (35) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft of goods, including Tongan crafts valued at around $11,600 from a home in Ma’ufanga.
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Tuesday 25 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Penisimani Nonu (29) received a suspended sentence for numerous counts, including forgery of health certificates to a shop owner at Tofoa in January 2022.
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Friday 21 April 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosifa Vailima Tuita (52) was sentenced to 12-years imprisonment for manslaughter of his twin sister in Falaleu, Vava'u, last year. During sentencing today, Lord Chief Justice Whitten KC said the accused stabbed his sister multiple times with a knife, “in what can only be characterised as a heinous and tragic crime of extreme brutality.”
Thursday 20 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ma’ili Finau (35) was re-sentenced and convicted on two counts, including the unlawful importation of two .22 rifles from New Zealand to Vava'u, after the Appeal Court quashed a Supreme Court sentence that discharged him without conviction.
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Tuesday 18 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A prolific armed robber, Rodney Toki (27), must serve another two years in prison, to be added onto a 12 years sentence he is already serving, the Appeal Court ruled this month. “This is one of those rare cases where there is little if any hope of his rehabilitation. The protection of society requires that he remain imprisoned for a lengthy period, which properly reflects the total seriousness of his two distinct bouts of criminal offending," stated the Appeal Court ruling.
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