Five accused of bank robbery further detained [1]
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 21:11. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
FIVE men charged with conspiring to commit robbery in regards to the armed hold up and robbery of thousands of pa'anga from the Westpac Bank of Tonga branch at Ma'ufanga on September 5, are further remanded in police custody.
The five men who are Sosefo Moala, 'Aisea 'Iongi, Teau Faletau, Ta'ufo'ou Fale'ofa and Sione Vaitaiki appeared before Chief Police Magistrate Folau Lokotui at the Magistrate Court asking for bail, on September 13.
However it is understood they were ordered to be further remanded in police custody pending another court appearance on Monday, September 19.
The defense counsel, including Laki Niu, Sifa Tu'utafaiva and 'Ofa Pouono, are expected to make further bail submissions at the lower court next Monday.
Police initially arrested four of the five men aged 30 to 41 in the Kolofo'ou area on September 6 and a fifth suspect aged 27 was later arrested at Mataika in Tongatapu on Friday September 9.