Chinese woman tries to leave on forged Tongan passport [1]
Friday, October 18, 2013 - 09:00. Updated on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - 17:09.
A woman who is alleged to have tried to leave Tonga, using a forged Tongan passport remains in custody with a man who is co-accused after they were arrested at Fua’amotu International Airport, on October 15.
The two Chinese nationals appeared at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court on October 16 and they have been detained in custody until October 24.
The Deputy Police Commissioner 'Unga Fa'aoa said that the accused arrived in Tonga on October 11 on Chinese passports but when they were leaving on Tuesday, the woman had a forged Tongan passport.
She has been charged with three counts of possession of a forged passport, use of a forged passport and possession of an unlawful passport, while the man is charged with one count of abetment.
'Unga said two Tongans were arrested and charged earlier this year in relation to the forgery of Tongan passports, and were awaiting a trial date. They were arrested in relation to blank Tongan passports, he said.
Tonga Police had information prior to arresting the two accused at the airport.
The Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee said yesterday that further inquiries were being made into the forgery of Tongan passports and other related matters.