Nuku'alofa businessman charged with smuggling goods [1]
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 14:07. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A Nuku'alofa businessman Joseph Ramanlal and two captains of his shipping company's vessels were last week charged with the smuggling and unloading of customs controlled goods in Tonga.
David Sadler the Head of Tonga Customs said this morning that Joseph Ramanlal, Sione Tau'alupe and 'Epeli Vainikolo had been charged with three counts of accepting customs controlled goods, smuggling goods, and unloading custom controlled goods.
He said they were arrested and charged by police on Friday October 5 before being released on bail to appear at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on Monday, October 15.
Joseph is the Deputy Director of Jaws South Pacific Shipping Company Ltd., which owns and operates the two vessels Princess Royal and St Theresa. Sione Tau'alupe is the captain of Princess Royal and 'Epeli Vainikolois the captain of St Theresa.
The Tonga Customs and Quarantine has seized goods (including perishables) of frozen meat and car parts.
David said they had issued a notice of seizure on both vessels but they had allowed the vessels to continue with their contracted duties of transporting goods.
"Until the case is settled in court we will not financially harm the business until the matter is proven and the Judge takes into consideration the facts of the matter," he said.
The charges related to the seizure of a large number of items that were moved allegedly without Customs authorization from the St Theresa to the Princess Royal while it was in Nuku'alofa Port, on the morning of September 4.
An alleged illegal activity between the two vessels at sea was witnessed by a customs officer who alerted his supervisor, who ordered the seizure of the goods.