A Pili man has been convicted for receiving stolen goods.
Manase Tongia has admitted to receiving stolen goods worth of TOP$6,610.20 from Sione Tu’ifua at Nuku’alofa Magistrates Court.
The court was told that the goods were unloaded from a delivery vehicle before they were loaded into a car last year at Pili.
Tongia was charged after his mother asked him to go in his car to Tu’ifua’s place and pick up a pram.
His mother was selling goods at a roadside market in Fanga.
Upon arrival, Tu’ifua told Tongia to take the stolen items first to another place to be sent to Ha’apai in which Tongia agreed. They also agreed for Tongia to return and pick up the pram.
Tongia dropped off the stolen goods which included packs of pairs of slippers and batteries before he left. He didn’t return to pick up the pram.
However, police arrived at the place where the stolen goods were dropped off and picked them up.
A brother of Tongia called to let him know what had happened to the stolen goods and that the police wanted to speak with him.
The Police later arrested Tongia and remanded him in custody.
He admitted to receiving the stolen goods.
Magistrate Loupua Kulī convicted Tongia of receiving and handling stolen goods.
