Tonga Court finds man guilty of rape, indecent assault

A man has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of four charges of rape and one of indecent assault.

Faka’anaua Ki Late Niutupuivaha appeared before Justice Charles Cato on charges dating back to 2006.

Kaniva News reports the charges were brought against him by two women who gave evidence of repeated sexual assaults over several years.

Justice Cato described Niutupuivaha’s behaviour as “predatory.”

He said the accused had taken advantage of very young women by entering their rooms, strangling them to keep them from crying out it and assaulting them.

He said he had no hesitation in accepting the women’s testimony.

Justice Cato did not record a sentence in his report of the case.