A Tongan pilot who worked for a local airline will appear before the Court in June for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a girl under 16-years-old. 

Mikaele Halafihi, 26 of Vailele and New Zealand appeared before the Supreme Court this month for hearing to charges of rape and two counts of sexual conduct. 

At the start of the trial Halafihi vacated his not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea to two counts of sexual conduct after the rape charge was dropped. 

Lawyer Alex Sua represented the defendant, who previously worked at Talofa Airways. He was released on bail pending his sentence on 6 June. 

The alleged offence took place on 21 September 2024 at Vailele, with the complainant being a 15-year-old from New Zealand and Tonga. The court has already imposed a Departure Prohibition Order on the defendant until the conclusion of his case. 

Another matter pending in court for sentencing is Kiuma Talouli who pleaded guilty to the murder of a 12-year-old boy from Salelavalu.

While the mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, where he has to serve 10 years before being entitled to parole, the prosecution in the case is asking the court for a minimum of 17 years to serve before being considered for parole. 

Prosecutor Fuifui Ioane argued for the minimum of 17 years, referencing section 66 of the Sentencing Act for the Court to impose a minimum period of 17 years or more.  

That matter has been adjourned to allow for defence counsel to file a response and the court to consider the application.