Tonga Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly threatened a journalist with a gun, on 23 April 2026 at the office of Kele'a Publication Ltd. Police are urging public to come forward with information that may help with their investigation.
Tonga Police said they received the report of the incident on 24 April 2026.
The incident occurred following media coverage, including a news item and a subsequent talk-back radio programme aired on FM91.5 of Kele'a Publication. The programme discussed the member of the Comancheros who is currently facing a life sentence and included an interview with a foreign correspondent.
"Tonga Police take this matter seriously and are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident," Tonga Police stated today.
"Members of the public who may have any information relevant to this investigation are urged to contact Tonga Police on 922 or report to their nearest police station."
Meanwhile, Kele'a Publication stated this week that on Thursday 23 April 2026, an unknown individual entered their office located at Kolomotu'a, Tongatapu and confronted one of its journalists with a firearm.
"A man wearing a black hooded-cardigan and armed with a hand gun (pistol), entered the Kele a Office late that afternoon and threatened one of the journalists who was alone in the Office at the time. The perpetrator appeared to have been upset about a radio news item run by the journalist earlier that morning in relation to a Mr. 'Eneasi Taumoefolau and his affiliations with the Australian outlaw motorcycle gang known as the Comancheros. The perpetrator threatened the joumalist with the pistol and warned her not to run any more news on Taumoefolau and the Comancheros, before exiting the Office and leaving in a waiting vehicle."
Kele'a noted that the journalist's news item was sourced from a documentary by ABC Foreign Correspondent, featuring an interview of Taumoefolau where he mentioned his ties to the notorious Australian outlaw motorcycle gang, Comancheros and his unsuccessful attempt to set up a chapter of the gang here in Tonga.
The news broadcast was followed by a regular radio talk back show discussing the day's news items.
"Numerous callers to the talk back show were particularly interested in the news item relating to Taumoefolau, expressing their concerns about drug trafficking and gang influence here in Tonga."
Kele'a expressed grave concerns over the freedom of the media and safety of the journalists when reporting on controversial issues.
"This unfortunate incident highlights the risks our local journalists face in carrying out their duties."
