Restaurant owner charged with illegal processing of sea-cucumbers [1]
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - 19:25
The owner of a Chinese food Restaurant in Nuku'alofa was arrested and charged with the processing of sea-cucumbers without a license.
Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita said police carried out a search warrant at the restaurant yesterday March 25 and seized around 10 sacks of sea-cucumbers.
He said the 45 year-old restaurant owner is charged with two counts of processing sea-cucumbers without a license and possession of sea-cucumbers out of season since the harvesting season is currently closed in Tonga.
The accused was released on bail today and will appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court on April 7.
The normal harvesting season for sea-cucumber usually runs from April to September. Government has not announced at this stage whether the harvesting season will be open this year.