court case

Tongan seasonal worker faces jail time after child sex conviction in Australia

After deliberating for more than three hours following the four-day trial, the Busselton District Court jury found 24-year-old Sione Vaioleti not guilty of aggravated sexual penetration without consent.

ABC Pacific reports the jury did, however, find him guilty of having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16.

One jury member cried as the verdict was handed down, while Vaioleti showed no emotion.

The lesser charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, with Judge John Prior saying it was inevitable that Vaioleti would be jailed.

Plea to send lonely African elephant home from India

. Now, a plea in the city's high court seeks to send him back home.

The petition - filed by 16-year-old Nikita Dhawan, founder of the non-profit Youth For Animals - alleges that Shankar has been living in isolation for years. It demands that he be removed from the zoo and rehabilitated in a wildlife sanctuary that houses other African elephants.

It also accuses zoo authorities of mistreating the animal - the BBC contacted officials but they declined to comment.

Guilty plea entered in murder case of Tongan human rights activist

Inoke Siolongo Filivaolelei Tonga was arrested and charged with Poli Kefu's death in May.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on Thursday.

He will be sentenced on October 6th.

Matangi Tonga reported Poli Kefu died after being hit with a rock.

It said Poli Kefu, who hailed from Lapaha, was not only a respected Tonga Red Cross communications officer, but was president of the Tonga Leitis Association.

He was also recognised for his work as a LGBTQIA+ rights advocate in Tonga and the region.

R. Kelly called a 'predator' as sex abuse trial begins

The star is accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery; charges which he has repeatedly denied.

Some of the allegations made against the singer - whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly - date back more than 20 years.

If he is convicted on all counts he could be sentenced to several decades in prison.

Opening statements were delivered to a jury of seven men and five women, who will decide the 54-year-old singer's fate.

Mr Kelly faces charges that he was the ringleader of a two-decade scheme where he recruited women and underage girls for sex.

Tongan living in US accused of sexual misconduct with girl on plane

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Alaska, Kepueli Talaiasi was on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Anchorage on Monday.

While on the flight, he is accused of “intentionally” engaging in sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl who was next to him on the flight.

Aung San Suu Kyi appears in court to face fresh charges

The ousted leader appeared to be in "good health" and asked to see her legal team, her lawyers say.

Two new charges were announced against Ms Suu Kyi, who was arrested after the 1 February coup.

Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets again despite Sunday seeing the deadliest day yet with 18 killed.

The deaths came as the military and police ramped up their response to demonstrations across the South East Asian nation over the weekend, firing into the crowds.

Fainu court case delayed until May 13

The Manly Sea Eagles hooker was charged with three offences after allegedly stabbing a man during a brawl at a Mormon church function in late October last year.

Fainu, 21, pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in company and affray.

Kaniva News reports the most serious charge – intent to cause grievous bodily harm – carries a maximum sentence of 25 years

Hefty jail term for attempting to smuggle meth from Tonga to NZ

The methamphetamine was estimated to have a street value of $TP2 million.

Kaniva News reports Mangisi,59, was found guilty of trying to export the drugs through Fua‘amotu International Airport in May 2018.

He was originally charged with three counts of possession of Class A drugs, the attempted export of illicit drugs and failure to make declaration to Customs Officer.

Intrigue and legal strategy on eve of Israel Folau's court case with Rugby Australia

On the same day that the former Wallaby's Instagram and Twitter pagesdisappeared for up to four hours, Folau's former employer filed an application in the Federal Circuit Court to have the high profile case moved.

The organisation was not immediately available for comment, but the development could be interpreted as a legal strategy to slow proceedings.

As the "little sister" to the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit Court has a track record of moving cases through quicker than its federally-based siblings and at a lower cost.

Tongan court to consider joint trial for noble MP

Matangi Tonga reported the hearing will consider a Crown proposal to have a joint trial of former Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō and the two others.

Last week, the case was adjourned to be mentioned in September before a new Chief Justice.

Tuʻivakanō previously appeared before Lord Chief Justice Paulsen and pleaded not guilty to a total of 15 charges.

Twelve charges related to the issuance of Tongan passports include perjury and accepting bribes, while three are for possession of firearms and ammunition without a license.