A former Police Constable in Tonga, Fatai Faletau, has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment in relation to the death of New Zealand Police Officer Kali Fungavaka in 2012.
Faletau was convicted on one charge of assault committed when the victim was taken into custody at the Nuku'alofa Police Station.
Matangi Tonga reports that Judge Justice Cato had initially acquitted Faletau of manslaughter and the alternative count of grievous bodily harm but convicted him on this lesser count of assault.
Mr Cato said Faletau's admission of responsibility for the assault made a great deal of difference to his sentencing.
In the same case, Police Inspector Kelepi Hala'ufia and Constable Salesi Maile were both last month convicted of manslaughter and a count of grievous bodily harm.
Mr Fungavaka was arrested outside a bar in the CBD for drunkenness, and died after being assaulted in police custody two years ago.
