355 suspects charged with arson, theft and other crimes [1]
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 18:11. Updated on Monday, May 19, 2014 - 19:06.
Suspects charged with offences relating to their participation in the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business center on November 16 will start appearing in the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on December 7.
The Tongan Police Commander Sinilau Kolokihakaufisi said today, November 28, that the suspects already charged will appear in a new Magistrate's Court that has been set up at the Tonga National Centre.
As of yesterday he said the Tongan Police had charged a total of 355 suspects for arson, theft and other crimes, all related to the destruction of central Nuku'alofa on November 16. He said that 100 of the suspects were still being held in custody by the police.
"There will be more arrests as we continue our investigations into the destruction of the businesses and buildings in central Nuku'alofa," said Sinilau.
In the meantime the Police authority had also confiscated stolen goods from people's homes, such as double beds, refrigerators, boat engines, a small launch, buckets of oil, boxes of noodles, food items and other goods.
"It is crazy to see all these heavy stolen items that the thieves managed to carry away!" said the Commander.