A young man in Tonga was sentenced to prison for breaking into the TCC office and stealing phones worth about $53,000.
A young man’s break-in at Tonga Communications Corporation has ended with a lengthy prison sentence after a theft spree involving high-value phones.
In Nuku’alofa, Kasiano Tukuhaukava, 21, admitted to serious housebreaking and theft linked to a TCC office break-in. The Supreme Court heard the case and, after his guilty plea, Justice Petunia Tupou KC imposed a total term of two and a half years’ imprisonment.
The court was told that around 3am on 12 July 2024, Tukuhaukava smashed a window at the TCC premises at Fasi using a metal rod, then entered and stole multiple mobile phones.. By the time an employee arrived later that morning, the damage was discovered, glass was scattered at the scene, and police were informed.
Only three of the 15 phones were later recovered, while the rest were taken, with their combined value presented to the court as $53,160. The stolen devices included iPhones across several models.
Meanwhile, Misryoum reports that Tukuhaukava was arrested in August 2024 on an unrelated matter, at which point he admitted to the TCC break-in and theft. The court heard he said he sold the stolen phones to friends.
This kind of case matters because high-value theft from public-facing institutions tends to shake confidence in everyday services, and it often pushes authorities to focus on prevention and deterrence.
Justice Tupou also highlighted Tukuhaukava’s past record. The court heard he had previous convictions and had previously received lenient outcomes, including fines and discharges without conviction, yet he continued offending.
The judge further noted a troubling development during the waiting period for this sentence: Tukuhaukava escaped from custody and was later sentenced by the Magistrates’ Court to seven months’ imprisonment for that offence.. He had already served two months of that sentence by the time of the Supreme Court hearing.
In sentencing, the court said serious housebreaking is treated as a significant offence in Tonga, often connected to more serious wrongdoing.. While the court initially considered a higher sentence, it reduced the final term to avoid imposing what was described as a “crushing” first imprisonment on a young offender.
The Supreme Court set part of the sentence with conditions, suspending the final 12 months for two years.. Under strict requirements, Tukuhaukava must not commit further offences, report to probation authorities, and complete rehabilitation programmes.. Considering the cumulative effect of the related escape sentence and his eligibility for remission, he is expected to serve about 23 months.
This outcome serves as a reminder that guilty pleas may reduce punishment, but prior chances and breaches of custody can still weigh heavily when judges look at risk to the public.