Police and locals were searching after a man had fallen into the sea at Houma blowholes.
A relative very close to the missing man, which we chose not to name, said the victim was Melekiseteki Finau, the son of Faʻahivalu and Mele Fīnau of Houma.
The source alleged the man was chased before he jumped into the rough seas.
The search remains ongoing at the time of this report.
Authorities have arrested two Coastside residents following a terrifying home invasion robbery over the weekend. One of the accused had been arrested in Oregon on a felony warrant five days earlier.
San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 200 block of Coral Reef Avenue following a burglary call at 12:05 a.m. on Sunday. When they arrived, the 75-year-old victim told them she had been sleeping in her bedroom when someone placed a pillow over her head and tied her wrists together.
One of the intruders, whom the victim believed was a woman, demanded money. When she declined to tell the burglars where her money was kept, the intruders ransacked the residence. Even though the victim couldn’t see the intruders, she heard at least two people in her bedroom. The victim believed she recognized the female’s voice as being that of her caretaker.
The intruders fled with an unknown amount of money. The victim was not injured.
According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, detectives identified Zoranna Mapapalangi and her husband, Antonio Mapapalangi, as suspects in the home invasion. After obtaining a $500,000 arrest warrant for each of them, detectives located and arrested Antonio Mapapalangi Thursday morning in San Mateo. Later that afternoon, detectives located and arrested his wife in Daly City. Both were booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on felony charges.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon confirmed on Friday that Zoranna Mapapalangi had been arrested at a rest stop there on Aug. 9. Douglas County deputies ran the plates on the car she occupied along with two men, and found that she was wanted on a felony warrant from Multnomah County, Ore.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says she was arrested and booked into the local jail on Aug. 9, but subsequently paid $1,000 of a $10,000 bond to be released.
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says Antonio Mapapalangi lives in El Granada. Zoranna Mapapalangi is listed with a Half Moon Bay address. Both were charged with felony robbery and burglary.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Pat Carey at (650) 259-2321 or email him at pcarey@smcgov.org. Detective Gaby Chaghouri can be reached at (650) 259-2314 or emailed at gchaghouri@smcgov.org. Those who wish to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip line at: 1-800- 547-2700.
Researchers from the University’s Wellington campus have started working with camera and GPS-wearing children in Tonga.
The cameras the researchers ask the 11 to 13-year-olds to wear automatically take images of the children’s surroundings from their perspective every 10 seconds for three days of the week – Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“The aim of Kids’Cam Tonga is to explore Tongan children’s environments, their interaction with those environments, and the implications for their health,” says research fellow Moira Smith, who is Deputy Director of the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, in the University’s Department of Public Health in Wellington.
University of Otago research fellow Moira Smith prepares to hand out equipment boxes — each containing a camera, GPS recorder and plugboard — to six Tongan school pupils. The children have the items for three days then researchers download and save the images and GPS data.
From now until November, the researchers will work with 108 children from 15 schools in Tongatapu and Ha’apai in Tonga.
Findings from the study will provide useful insights for health promotion interventions and public health policy.
The research, funded by a University of Otago grant, repeats the successful Health Research Council funded Kids’Cam project https://diet.auckland.ac.nz/content/kidscam conducted in Wellington in 2014-15.
It was believed to be one of the first projects in the world to use those technologies to explore children’s environments, and involved 169 children in Year 8 at randomly selected schools in the Wellington region.
Two men have been convicted of manslaughter following the death of a man in Afā on July 21, 2013.
In the Supreme Court Hon. Justice Cato sentenced Semisi Lolohea and Monalisa Manumu’a to nine years in prison for the manslaughter of ‘Eneasi Tuʻineau Lātū.
Lātū, 48, was married with six children.
Both prisoners apologised to the family of the dead man and compensation of food, pigs and mats had been accepted. Lolohea was distantly related to the dead man’s family.
Manumu’a had been found not guilty of murder by a jury at an earlier trial on July 1 this year.
As a consequence, charges of murder against Lolohea were withdrawn and he was re-arraigned on a charge of manslaughter.
In his summary Hon. Justice Cato said that on or about July 21, 2013, at Afa, Lolohea and Manumu’a went to the house of ‘Ana Lupe Kama for a meal. Afterwards they drank alcohol with another friend before returning to Kama’s house where they continued drinking.
While they were drinking, Lolohea and Manumu’a kept complaining about Lotu Latu and how a week before he had taken Kama to a drinking party where she was beaten up.
Later that night Latu passed the house where they were drinking. The two rushed out and beat Latu up before they were separated by another person.
Just then Lotu Latu’s father, ‘Eneasi Latu, was walking back from a kava party. Lolohea stopped ‘Eneasi and told him to find out whether his son was alive. ‘Eneasi became angry and returned carrying a machete and an iron bar.
In the ensuing fight ‘Eneasi cut Lolohea’s leg with a knife. Lolohea and Manumu’a beat him with sticks until he fell over and continued to beat him on the ground. Neighbours arrived and dragged the two assailants away while ‘Eneasi was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead. The cause of death was a brain haemorrhage caused by blows to to his faced and head.
In determining the sentence Hon. Justice Cato said he considered, with some reservations, the argument that the jury at the earlier trial had found Manumu’a not guilty because of provocation by ‘Eneasi Latu.
“The major initial contributing factor for this homicide was the foolish decision of Mr ‘Eneasi Latu to return armed with a machete and iron bar to the area where he knew Semisi Lolohea had earlier confronted him concerning the activities of his son,” the judge said.
“Although the initial provocation may still have been operating on their minds and fueled their anger, I consider their main motivation, at the end, was to exact revenge.”
In handing down his sentence, the judge said Manumu’a appeared to be a better candidate for rehabilitation than Lolohea. Accordingly, he suspended the last two years of Manumu’a’s sentence and the last 18 months of Lolohea’s period of imprisonment.
The main points
Heavy rain in the morning in Nukuʻalofa capital city did not stop a parade to celebrate Fiji’s gold medal win in the Olympics men’s sevens.
The celebration was organised by the Fijian community in Tonga.
Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and the Minister for Public Enterprises Hon. Poasi Tei joined the parade which marched along Taufaʻahau Road.
The marchers carried banners and waved Fijian flags. Some carried umbrellas.
The Fijian rugby players beat their former colonial ruler, Britain, by 43-7 to win the inaugural men’s rugby sevens competition.
Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has asked the House to schedule a vote of no confidence against him.
Hon. Pōhiva said he wanted to make sure the vote did not clash with his upcoming meetings planned for overseas.
The Leader of the Opposition, Lord Vaea, told Kaniva News two weeks ago that the opposition would submit a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
However, when Hon. Pōhiva asked for a date for the vote this week, Lord Vaea did not say anything.
The Prime Minister said news of the vote of no confidence motion had been released by the media and Tongans overseas and in Tonga were following it up.
He said he was scheduled to travel to Sweden next week and on his return he would again leave the country for the Pacific Island Forum.
He was supposed to attend many meetings overseas, but had opted to not attend some of them.
Hon. Pohiva told the House he wanted to know if it was possible to set a date for the vote on the House’s agenda.
This Tuesday, August 16, the Speaker of the House told the Prime Minister he had yet to receive the motion for a vote of no confidence, but if he received it he would put it on the Parliamentary agenda.
Lord Vaea, who was declared leader of the opposition by the Prime Minister in New Zealand during his recent state visit, confirmed to Kaniva News they would work on a motion of vote of no confidence when the House resumed this week.
Response
While the Prime Minister was in New Zealand two weeks ago, his supporters raised their concerns about a revelation by Lord Vaea on Kaniva News’ weekly radio programme that the opposition would submit a vote of no confidence against him.
His supporters wanted Hon. Pohiva to respond to some of Lord Vaea’s claims.
The Prime Minister said it was difficult for him to reply because he had not seen a copy of the motion.
He told the meeting in Auckland that the motion was constitutional. Votes of no confidence were made to ensure governments could be voted out if it failed in its responsibility to the country.
It was clear from those who spoke during the meeting many still supported Pohiva’s government.
Many said the nobles had been leading the government for years and the level of corruption regularly reported by the media was a great concern.
Some who had listened to Lord Vaea’s radio interview about the vote of no confidence said the nobles appeared to have nothing new to offer if they took over the government.
The main points
For more information
Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes
A man has been found not guilty of rape in the Supreme Court.
Hon. Justice Cato dismissed a charge against Hemilitoni Teukata that on or about March 14, 2015, at Talafo’ou, he had carnal knowledge of a woman against her will.
The complainant was aged 21 at the time and had two young children, one aged four and the other an infant. Her husband was away fruit picking. She gave evidence that on that date, she was at home alone with her eldest son when the accused and a friend, Samisoni, visited about 11pm.
The complainant said that Samisoni left and the accused remained behind. She said the accused tried to force himself on her and she gave in to his demands after he threatened to kill her son.
She said that after he had sex with her he threatened to kill her and her son if she made a complaint. He left about 2am.
She subsequently told two people about the rape and then made a complaint to the police. Her husband returned three days later and she told him about the incident.
Detective Vehala said he conducted a lengthy interview with Teukata who said he had watched videos at the complainant’s house and then had consensual sex with her. He denied threatening the complainant.
He said they had sex again later that night.
Samisoni told the court the accused and the complainant had previously had a sexual relationship.
The complainant admitted the relationship.
Hon. Justice Cato then adjourned the hearing for the Crown to take instructions and consider its position.
“I also wished to consider my position to have the witness recalled,” he said.
“This seemed to me to be very relevant evidence upon which any competent defence counsel would have cross-examined the complainant. The accused was unrepresented and had not cross examined the complainant about this matter, or really anything of substance, at all.”
Hon. Justice Cato said he was concerned about the complainant’s lack of honesty about her prior relationship.
“This case involves credibility,” he said.
“There is no supporting evidence that anybody heard the complainant screaming or distressed on the night in question. There is no evidence of any sexual complaint, although the complainant said she had told others about the rape.
“Faced with a situation where I have evidence admitted to by the complainant on recall that she had recent consensual intercourse with the accused in apparently not dissimilar circumstances and with no independent evidence of her distress on the 14th March 2015, I am left in doubt as to where the truth lies.”
The Judge said he also had concerns about the earlier statements made by the accused to police when he was not represented.
“For these reasons, I do not find the case against the accused of rape on March 14, 2015 proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The main points
Hōfoa and Hoi came top of the Tongatapu Primary School district soroban competition.
Hōfoa won the Hihifo District competition while Hoi won the Hahake competition.
Tokomololo GPS became second while the third place went to Fahefa GPS.
A statement said: “More than 175 students from Class 3 – Class 5 from 14 Primary Schools in Hihifo competed in the written examination, oral examination and the flash examination.
“The next District Soroban competition will be held in ‘Eua Island on September 8th 2016, before the National Competition in March next year.
“The Soroban Competition were co-hosted by Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Education and Training, and supported by the Tonga Soroban Education Association, JICA Tonga Office, and Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation”.
Result: Soroban Competition in Hihifo
• Class 3
Written Oral Flash
1 Tupou Seini ‘Ungo’unga Tokomololo Tupou Seini ‘Ungo’unga Tokomololo Tupou Seini ‘Ungo’unga Tokomololo
2 Kaneisoni Mafi Ha’alalo Hepisipa Fonua Fahefa Kaneisoni Mafi Ha’alalo
3 Kalolaine Fetu’u’aho Te’ekiu David ‘Aho Tokomololo Mo’uifo’ou Lolo Tokomololo
• Class 4
Written Oral Flash
1 Felila Kolotau Hofoa Felila Kolotau Hofoa Seini ‘Ofa Prescott Hofoa
2 Seini ‘Ofa Prescott Hofoa Falesa Tu’ipulotu Hofoa Vetea Mahe Tokomololo
3 Falesa Tu’ipulotu Hofoa Losa Moala Fahefa Felila Kolotau Hofoa
• Class 5
Written Oral Flash
1 Mele Tufui Afu Hofoa Paula Lonitenisi Fahefa ‘Elone Prescott Hofoa
2 ‘Elone Prescott Hofoa ‘Elone Prescott Hofoa Oujohn Kamisese Kahoua
3 Ma’u Kakala Paongo Hofoa Fe’ofa’aki Makihele Kahoua Mele Tufui Afu Hofoa
• Teachers
1 Luseane Pakohe Pea
2 Manulua Tu’ipulotu Hofoa
3 Veisinia Faletau Tokomololo
• Schools
1 GPS Hofoa
2 GPS Tokomololo
3 GPS Fahefa
A 28-year-old Tongan died in Alexandria, Sydney after his motorcycle collided head on with a car at the intersection of Euston Road and Maddox Street Wednesday 17 around 6.45am.
He was treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, but died a short time later, Sydney media reported.
Reports on social media confirmed the deceased was Holoua Tonga, a Tongan player at Balmain Rugby Club.
An emotional message was posted to the club’s Facebook page this morning said:
“We are sorry to pass on the news that Holoua Tonga passed away this morning after a motorcycle accident on the way to work.
Holoau seen here from Saturday’s Kentwell win was a hardworking family man with a beautiful wife & young family. He will be sadly missed by all that knew him”.
The driver of the car, a 50-year-old man, was uninjured.
He was taken to Sydney Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Officers from Redfern Local Area Command are investigating.
Police have asked any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
A teenager who laughed and cheered as a Sydney court heard evidence of her “favourite” beheading video has been denied bail on terrorism charges.
Alo-Bridget Namoa, 19, is charged with possessing an item connected to a terrorist act and recklessly collecting documents connected to a terrorist act along with her 19-year-old husband, Sameh Bayda.
Police allege she was found with a hunting knife and a Shahada flag in her handbag as well as instructions for making a bomb detonator.
On Tuesday, Magistrate John Edwards denied her bail in Central Local Court.
He said that, although there was evidence Ms Namoa was being kept in very harsh conditions in prison and that her mental health was deteriorating, it didn’t constitute the “exceptional circumstances” that must to be proven in order to warrant bail on terrorism offences.
During a bail hearing on Monday, her barrister Zaid Khan tendered evidence showing that Ms Namoa has been suffering from hallucinations and schizophrenia and her mental health has deteriorated since entering custody in February.
In one instance, Ms Namoa, who is of Tongan heritage and converted to Islam after school, told prison doctors: “I hear voices. It tells me to hurt people but I don’t.”
Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and black hijab, she laughed, pulled faces and clapped during the proceedings on Monday.
Alo-Bridget Namoa converted to Islam after school.
The court heard that she has told prison doctors: “The toilet talks to me, it makes me laugh” and “I see angels, they are my friends”.
She also said: “I keep thinking about the things I have watched on the phone. The beheadings and all.”
Ms Namoa laughed and shouted “woo!” when Crown prosecutor Michelle England read out another comment to doctors in which she said: “My favourite one [is] when the rocket blew his head off, his intestines and all.”
She laughed as Ms England detailed material allegedly found on her phone including “extremely violent” war scenes and support for the San Bernadino shooting in America.
In one text messages with Mr Baydah she allegedly wrote: “I want to do an Islamic Bonnie & Clyde version on the kafirs haha … like ASAP”.
However, Mr Khan argued that the text messages show Ms Namoa’s immaturity and suggest the pair were filled with bravado or a “romanticised notion of these two offenders against the world”.
The court heard Ms Namoa has been given the highest classification in Silverwater prison due to her terrorism allegations and she is kept in permanent isolation with limited health care.
She spends 22 hours a day in a single cell and two hours a day in an isolated caged exercise yard.
She will next appear in court on September 28 to be sentenced on separate charges of failing to answer questions at the NSW Crime Commission.
