From the Courts

Key evidence of what went on in the back of the Nuku’alofa Police Station the night New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavake received fatal injuries, is expected to come out in a preliminary inquiry that was due to start this morning in the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court but was delayed when it was discovered that the evidence of the accused policemen and civilian will clash.

Five months after the death of Kali Fungavaka, who was injured while in police custody, the Preliminary Inquiry of five Tongan police officers and one civilian who are charged with manslaughter will be held on February 25-27, at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court.

Six members of a Parliamentary Select Committee have paid costs of $5,500 to the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court for delay in a hearing on an application for a Judicial Review of the Report on how a multi-million pa’anga loan from China was spent on the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa. The Attorney General is considering acting for the parliamentary committee, but not as individual members.

A hearing on an application for a Judicial Review of the Report of a Parliamentary Select Committee that investigated how a multi-million pa’anga loan from China was spent on the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa was adjourned to April 4. Five of the six committee members, who are defendants in this case, appeared at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court on Wednesday January 23 unprepared for the hearing and without legal representation.

One of three accused Police Constables has been acquitted of manslaughter after police prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the death of ‘Inoke Finau Vala Pepa (20) in Vaini last year.