The king’s noble, Lord Fohe, has pleaded not guilty to allegedly assaulting a man, the Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper reported.
Lord Fohe
The noble appeared in the Magistrate court on May 7 and he is expected to reappear in court later.
The offence carries an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not more than $5,000.
The noble was no stranger to court and controversy.
As Kaniva News reported previously, Lord Fohe and his Free Wesleyan church minister had to be restrained during a dispute over damage to a fence, it has been claimed.
Reports claimed the church minister was unhappy after a bulldozer destroyed the fence of the church’s residence for its ministers in Puke.
Lord Fohe is the estate holder of Puke.
In 2017, 12 Puke residents took Lord Fohe to court after a dispute with another Puke resident, Monte Payne.
However the court dismissed the application and ruled in favour of the noble saying the issues raised could be answered without joining the present Lord Fohe as a party.
By One News / TVNZ and is republished with permission
A patched Mongrel Mob member has been arrested and charged over a serious assault in Christchurch in January.
Leni Taufateau. Source: 1 NEWS
Nineteen-year-old Leni Taufateau, a promising rugby player, sustained serious head injuries following the assault on Oxford Terrace on January 31.
A 33-year-old man, a patched Mongrel Mob member, has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was arrested in Hastings yesterday and will appear in Hastings District Court today.
Two days after the incident Detective Senior Sergeant Nicola Reeves described the attack as “cowardly”.
“An unprovoked attack, regardless of who is responsible for it is always a concern for the public and the police. This a cowardly attack on a young man who was doing absolutely nothing except being out and enjoying himself for the night so that is a concern for all of us,” she said.
Today in a statement police say: “The victim in this assault has made progress with his recovery, however he still faces serious health issues due to the injuries sustained”.
Police remain keen to hear from anyone who has information about the incident.
In a strong show of support, spiritual leaders, social media users, former high school and compassionate individuals have prayed for the Tongan Mixed Martial Art (MMA) fighter who is on life support in Auckland hospital.
Liufau Vake (inset) and family and members of the Mixed Martial Art community inside Auckland hospital. Photo/Supplied
Many wrote and shared their prayers and encouragements on Facebook including Kaniva News’ Facebook posts’ comment sections.
Some even sent their prayers by email to us before we published them under stories we have published about the victim, Liufau Vake.
As Kaniva News reported on Monday, the family have asked for prayers for Vake. The response has been huge.
Some have quoted texts from the Holy Bible including Psalm 27 :1- 2 which says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall”.
In a post on social media, West Auckland’s Kelston Boys’ High School called on the school community to remember the former student and his family in prayer.
Vake’s mother has asked doctors that he be kept on life support as they pray for a miracle, his maternal aunt told us.
City Kickboxing head coach and friend, Eugene Bareman, told the AM Show the situation was “pretty dire” and that doctors had been gracious enough to tell it like it is.
“He’s hanging on by a thread. So yeah, we’re praying for a miracle. That’s what we need at this stage.”
Vake, 25, was rushed to hospital following an attack at Auckland central on Sunday morning.
The father of one had been on his way home when the incident happened on Symonds St just before 3am.
It is alleged Vake fell after being hit from behind.
Police and St John emergency services were called to the area, near the intersections of Khyber Pass Rd and Newton Rd in Eden Terrace, at 2.55am.
Two people were initially taken into custody.
However, police later charged a total of four men who appeared in the Auckland District Court on Monday.
Three of the men charged in relation to the incident are 29.
One is charged with common assault, another is charged with two counts of assaulting with intent to injure, while the other is charged with wounding with intent and injuring with intent.
The fourth man is a 32-year-old who has been charged with common assault.
Police said inquiries are continuing into the circumstances of the incident.
However, they are not looking for anyone else in relation to it.
Vake’s death came amid fresh demands for tougher laws to tackle coward punches.
UFC middleweight Champion, Israel Adesanya, who is Vake’s main training partner, is calling for more serious consequences for “coward punchers”.
Adesanya, who himself had his jaw broken in 2012 when hit from behind, wants to bring attention to the lack of legal recognition of the seriousness of the “coward punch”.
“I am distraught. My gym brother may die because of the gutless actions of these men.
“In the past decade there have been numerous deaths from punches thrown when people are not looking. Given the massive publicity these crimes have received, no one is dumb enough to think there is not a serious risk of death. There is no excuse, it should be considered attempted murder or murder.”
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman can’t understand why the issue has not been addressed sooner.
“The Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria all introduced coward punch laws in 2014.
“In 2018, the New Zealand parliament rejected a bill in its first reading to create a coward punch offence with a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. This means there is absolutely no deterrent in place to make people think twice about this type of attack. “It’s sad to see Australia so far ahead of us in dealing with these evil acts. If New Zealand law doesn’t allow for a more serious penalty, we should all be pushing for it.”
The Minister of Health Associate Professor ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu said the country’s borders are expected to open to foreign nationals on March 2022.
She said this was the best decision made for the safety of the country because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The repatriation and cargo flights will continue to arrive in the kingdom under special permits from the Ministry.
Tonga’s Covid-19 vaccination programme started last month on the main island, Tongatapu.
It began with 24,000 doses of the Covid-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines which arrived on March 31.
This week the Ministry said it has broadened the vaccination roll-out to the people of ‘Eua island starting yesterday Thursday 19.
Prof Tu’ipulotu said 22,363 people have been vaccinated so far.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, a Tongan died after receiving her covid vaccination, but the Ministry said there was no direct link.
It said the 93-year-old elderly woman’s death was investigated and the results showed she died from non-communicable diseases including heart conditions.
The Ministry previously said that in regard to international reports raising concerns over blood clots as possible side effects from this vaccine, the Ministry would not make any decision to bring in a vaccine that will do more bad than good to our people.
“We rely on the records from our international stakeholders that it is safe as we have worked closely with them and trust their procedures. Getting the vaccination is vital to our people’s health because being vaccinated is our responsibility to not only protect ourselves but our family and people from the virus,” Acting Health CEO Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa said.
There were reports in New Zealand of people dying after receiving the vaccines but authorities said no link established.
Vava’u man ‘Inoke Tonga, 27, appeared in the Mu’a Magistrate Court today May 19 charged with the murder of Polikalepo Kefu, 41.
Tonga is expected to reappear at the Magistrate court in June 2.
It was alleged Kefu and the suspect were at the beach near Tatakamotonga on May 1 before the incident occurred.
Tonga turned himself into Police the same day after realising they have his identity.
Detectives identified Tonga as a person of interest after interviews and a canvass of the area.
Kefu was laid to rest last week after postmortem tests were completed.
His violent death has shocked the local and international community.
It has also triggered calls to redefine LGBT name according to its Tongan context and to revise laws about homosexuality which is still considered illegal. Though rarely enforced, it still carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.
Tonga does not recognize same-sex unions in any form.
Jamil Hopoate’s lawyer has vowed to take his client’s bid for freedom to the Supreme Court after a surety from Bulldogs NRL star Will Hopoate of $50,000 failed to release his brother from jail.
Jamil Hopoate, who is an off-contract NRL player, was charged with large-scale commercial drug supply on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the alleged importation of cocaine with a street value of $154.2 million.
Off-contract NRL player Jamil Hopoate is behind bars as he faces drug supply charges. CREDIT:GETTY
Police allege Hopoate ran from police with an 8kg substance in his backpack, which he threw over a fence into a nearby backyard in Mascot.
The 26-year-old appeared via audiovisual link at Sydney’s Central Local Court on Wednesday and wiped away tears as his daughter waved to him through the court’s cameras.
His brother Will, was joined by his father John and mother Brenda, who signalled “I love you” multiple times to the cameras while the matter was being heard.
In court, Hopoate’s principal lawyer Greg James QC argued the substance in the backpack was a dummy drug that had been swapped out by police and therefore his client could not be charged under the charge of drug supply.
Australian Border Force had previously intercepted a shipment of toolboxes last week from the UK, which contained 514 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of nearly $155 million and had been investigating the matter since.
As part of the investigation, police switched the cocaine for a dummy drug. Mr James argued the former Brisbane Broncos player was therefore simply utilised as a delivery person for the material.
Magistrate Philip Stewart rejected the submission and said it could be inferred the defendant believed the backpack contained a prohibited drug.
“By taking the bag why did he throw it away … if not of the belief he was taking a prohibited drug,” Mr Stewart said.
Mohomed Abbas, another lawyer on Hopoate’s legal team, told reporters they would be taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
“We respectfully disagree with the submission, we do intend to take it to the Supreme Court,” Mr Abbas said.
Mr Abbas said Mr Hopoate was doing “fine” after spending the night in Surry Hills Police Station.
“When you get bail refused you spend time in custody, it is what it is,” he said.
Police allege officers stopped a truck in Botany on Tuesday which was being driven by Hopoate’s co-accused and friend Leanne Mafoa.
Police allege the duo were picking up the consignment and Ms Mafoa allegedly reversed the vehicle at speed, forcing a police officer to jump out of the way. She was arrested and charged with large commercial drug supply and using an offensive weapon in company to prevent detention after driving the truck at speed.
She also had her bail refused on Wednesday.
“We didn’t know the identity of the people who came to pick the consignment up until it happened,” he said.
Hopoate was initially taken to the hospital for a minor leg injury after the arrest.
Detectives also arrested a 28-year-old man during a vehicle stop on Williamson Drive in Macquarie Fields about 5pm on Tuesday. A home in Minto was raided a short time later.
The Minto man was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
“Police will allege in court that the man collected the consignment from Matraville and delivered it to Pagewood, before leaving the area,” police said.
He was refused police bail.
Chief Superintendent Bennett said based on social media, the trio appeared to be friends.
Ha’apai governor Viliami Manuopangai Hingano was today fined in the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court after he was convicted of unlawful possession of 198kg of turtle meat.
The judge fined him a total of $12,500, the editor of the Kakalu ‘O Tonga Newspaper reported this morning.
Hingano, 46, was in possession of the turtle meat out of the shell, without it being certified by an authorised officer that it came from a turtle of legal size.
He pleaded not guilty and elected trial by judge alone.
Hingano told the court that he had no guilty intent to commit this offence and that he did not know that the law required that there be prior approval to kill a turtle.
But Judge Niu didn’t buy it.
Judge Niu said: “Having heard the accused‘s background, he being a director in the Ministry of Public Enterprises, and he had been a member of Parliament representing District 12 of Ha’apai which included Lofanga, and having grown up and living in Ha’apai, I do not believe his evidence that he did not know that an approval was required before a turtle was killed”.
The family of Liufau Vake, a 25-year-old promising Mixed Martial Art fighter is advocating to keep him on life support after consultations with doctors at Auckland hospital.
Family rally to support Vake while he’s in comma. (Inset) Vake and his daughter. Photos/Supplied
His maternal aunt has confirmed this to Kaniva News this morning saying Liufau’s mother was optimistic and wanted more time while she and her whole family were praying for her son.
Vake who was in comma for three days now since Sunday 16 was put on ventilator but he allegedly never recovered consciousness.
He was rushed to hospital after he was allegedly attacked on Symonds St just before 3am.
It is alleged Vake fell after being hit from behind.
Police and St John emergency services were called to the scene, near the intersections of Khyber Pass Rd and Newton Rd in Eden Terrace, at 2.55am.
Two people were initially taken into custody.
Police later charged a total of four men who appeared in the Auckland District Court on Monday.
One is charged with common assault, another is charged with two counts of assaulting with intent to injure, while the other is charged with wounding with intent and injuring with intent.
The fourth man is a 32-year-old who has been charged with common assault.
Police say inquiries are continuing into the circumstances of the incident.
However, they are not looking for anyone else in relation to it.
Vake’s family, friends and kāinga as well as the mixed martial arts community have rallied to support him and his family.
A Tongan has died after getting a Covid-19 vaccination, but the Ministry of Health says there is no direct link.
The death of the 93-year-old woman a day after receiving her Covid-19 vaccination was “due to non-communicable diseases including a heart condition”, the Minister of Health Prof ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu was quoted by local media as saying.
The Minister reportedly said the death was investigated.
The elderly woman was given the jab together with members of her family.
The Ministry previously said it remained confident the vaccine was safe and effective.
Meanwhile, it said it is working to make sure more of the vital vaccines do not go to waste by lowering down the vaccination ages from 35 to 30.
It has also broadened the vaccination roll-out to the people of ‘Eua island starting today Thursday 19.
Prof Tu’ipulotu said 22,363 people have been vaccinated so far.
“This means that about 80% of Tonga’s first vaccines batch has been used with none gone to waste”, she said.
“Don’t miss out on the last few weeks of the national rollout. If you are aged 30 and above, aged 18 with an NCDs or disabilities, come get vaccinated this week – Digi Square or NCD Centre”.
Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa was elected as new president of the Tonga Rugby Union.
PM Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Tonga Parliament
He replaced former president MP Siaosi Pohiva.
The renewal of the union’s presidency comes after a new Chief Executive Officer, Peter Harding was confirmed in January.
Meanwhile, the ‘Ikaletahi will face the All Blacks at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in July.
New Zealand Rugby has confirmed the dates and venues for the Tests against Tonga and Fiji.
The All Blacks will play Tonga at the Warriors home ground on July 3rd.
Former All-Black, Malakai Fekitoa, is poised to return to Tonga’s 15-a-side ranks, after committing to play for the national sevens team in next month’s final Olympic qualifier in Monaco.
“We’ve done the documents for him and New Zealand have released him back to Tonga who he originally played for when he was 18,” TRU Chief Executive Peter Harding has told Pacific Beat.
“We have probably two others, (who’re ready to make the switch) we’re just confirming at the moment who will be playing for us, but that’s about the maximum we have at the moment because of the fixture clash with the big European club competition finals.”
“We’re going to put out a very good side of professional Europe-based players over there. Everyone’s incredibly keen to play. I’m not sure whether we’ll qualify, but I’m not sure we won’t qualify either,” Harding said.
Tonga is expected to reappear at the Magistrate court in June 2.
The Minister reportedly said the death was investigated.
