The Nuku’alofa Supreme Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Movete Mala’efo’ou for drug-related offences and assaulting a police officer during a violent escape attempt.
However, his sentence had the last six months suspended for two years. His co-accused, Sosefo Tukia, received a fully suspended sentence on conditions.
The case stemmed from an incident on October 17, 2024, when police searched for a suspect, Kesomi Taufa, at Tonga Cable Limited.
Authorities received a tip that a green Mazda Demio with a rental license plate was delivering drugs to Taufa. Officers later spotted the vehicle near Vakūho and approached Mala’efo’ou and Tukia.
Tukia immediately fled, discarding 10 packs of white substances and a white bag containing 217 empty packs before being apprehended.
Meanwhile, Mala’efo’ou violently resisted arrest, shoving Police Officer Tafea, jumping into the Mazda, and reversing into the officer—injuring his left arm—before speeding off. During his escape, he discarded a black bag, which police later recovered.
A search of the suspects and their belongings uncovered incriminating evidence. Tukia was found with a violet straw in his pocket and $120 cash in a body-worn bag.
Mala’efo’ou’s black bag contained a weighing scale, a pink straw, empty drug packs, three packs of white substances, dried green leaves, and aluminium foil packets.
The abandoned Mazda was later located in Tofoa, and a search of Tukia’s home revealed more drugs and a silver weighing scale hidden in a wrecked car on the property.
In a separate incident on October 9, 2024, police previously arrested Mala’efo’ou near Kolomotu’a after receiving a tip that he was using a vehicle (C37141) to supply drugs.
A search uncovered drugs, including packs of white substance, cash, an empty pack with a car key, and shredded green leaves near the vehicle. Mala’efo’ou admitted ownership of the items.
The court considered the severity of Mala’efo’ou’s actions—particularly his assault on an officer and prior drug involvement—in imposing the sentence.
Tukia, who showed lesser involvement, received a more lenient punishment.
Both accused did not cooperate with police, the court document said.
Movete had previous convictions.
Both Movete’s and Tukia’s early guilty pleas and status as first-time drug offenders were considered mitigating factors.
