Tonga's Speaker stripped of job and noble title [1]
Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 20:00. Updated on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 20:00.
Noble Veikune, the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament has lost his parliamentary seat and been stripped of his noble title, after being found guilty on January 25 of a criminal offence.
A Tonga Government Press Release today, February 7, stated that the Acting Private Secretary of the King, Sateki 'Ahio, informed Veikune of the decision last Friday, February 3.
The decision to strip Veikune of his title and his parliamentary seat was back-dated to be effective from the date the jury decision was announced in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on January 25, when Veikune was found guilty of bribery and customs duty evasion. He is awaiting sentencing.
The statement noted that Veikune will assume his ordinary name, Siosifa Fatafehi Fuatakifolaha.
Meanwhile, the title Veikune was bestowed by the king on Veikune's son and heir to the title, also backdated to January 26.
Veikune's estates in Tongatapu are Longoteme, Matamoana, 'Oneata island and Kanatea island. In Vava'u, Veikune's estates are Pale'a, Talahuo, Lolopipi, Longomapu, Kolotahi Island, and Ha'akoka and Fangaeva.
In Tonga this is the second time for a noble to be stripped of his title for a criminal conviction. Queen Salote in 1926 removed the title from Ve'ehala.