From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

A Tongan member of Parliament and his son face charges of sedition, while another MP faces fraud charges, following a police raid on the offices of the Tongan Human Rights and Democracy Movement in March.

After seizing computer hard disks and two copies of a letter, which had been published locally and overseas, alluding that King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV had a huge fortune deposited in a bank account overseas, the police laid charges against four people. Those charged were the Tongatapu no. 1 People’s Representative ‘Akilisi Pohiva, his son Po’oi, and daughter, Laucala who worked in the THRDM offices. Also charged was a newly elected Tongatapu People’s Representative, ‘Isileli Pulu, who was an employee of the THRDM until he became a candidate for the Tonga 2002 Parliamentary election on March 6.

‘Akilisi Pohiva and Po‘oi Pohiva face three criminal charges each of: Sedition, Knowingly using a fraudulent letter, and Defaming the King.

‘Isileli Pulu and Laucala Pohiva each face a criminal charge of Knowingly using a fraudulent letter.

A Police Magistrate’s court of inquiry will hear the charges, but a hearing has been postponed four times, and the latest date set for a hearing is May 8.

Sedition under the Tongan Law is an offense against the State, and a conviction carries a penalty of imprisonment for periods of up to seven years.