Results for From the Courts

Tonga's Supreme Court has found that the Minister of Lands unlawfully cancelled the lease of the Fakafanua Centre property to the late Kalolaine Fakafanua, and an injunction will be issued to prevent the Noble Fakafanue, and other defendants, the ANZ Bank, Cabella Construction Ltd and the Minister of Lands from carrying out any further construction work on a new building at the centre, opposite the Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku'alofa.

A 27-year old man from Nukunuku received a one-year suspended sentence today on two counts of housebreaking into the Shoreline office and the Nuku'alofa Club in the riots of November 16, 2006.

A sedition charge against a Nuku'alofa businesswoman 'Ofa Simiki was withdrawn by the Crown at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court yesterday, April 30.

"Innocent young children must be protected from predators like yourself," Tonga's Chief Justice said in handing down an eight-year prison sentence on a man who sexually abused a five-year-old girl who was on her way home from school.

The young Noble Fakafanua, the estate holder of Ma'ufanga, is in a legal dispute with his two uncles and four aunties over the ownership of the Fakafanua Centre property, in a hearing in the Land Court that will continue next week.

A young father who was convicted of five charges, two of them relating to the riots of November 16, 2006 serves a nine months imprisonment sentence starting today.

Sangstar Saulala and 'Ofa Simiki, two candidates for the April Parliamentary Election appeared in court early this week.

A teenage rioter who set fire to two cars parked outside the Pacific Royale Hotel during the riots of November 16, 2006 will serve a two-year imprisonment sentence starting today.

Deciding against a death penalty, Tonga's Supreme Court today preferred a sentence of life imprisonment for a young man found guilty of murder.