Payment of a settlement for an undisclosed amount of money to Audra Watts, the widow of Kali Fungavaka, will be made from the Tonga Attorney General’s Office, who will also supervise the setting up of a trust for the benefit of the victim’s children.

“Payment will be made from this Office as the holder of Government's Liability Vote,” the Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu stated yesterday, March 9.

He said the undisclosed amount had not yet been paid, and that, “payment will be made as agreed in the confidential deed of settlement.”

Fungavaka died in Tonga in 2012 while in police custody, and the deed of settlement was reached by the Crown and the estate of the late Kali Fungavaka, after a Supreme Court declaration on Thursday, 3 March in Nuku'alofa, as the result of a civil case lodged by Audra Watts, the administrator of the estate of her late husband, Kali Fungavaka.

‘Aminiasi further clarified that the settlement would also provide benefits for the five children by Kali Fungavaka’s first wife, Cally Ruahe and that the amount was agreed by Ms Watts.

“The wife [Ms Watts] will set the trusts up and will report to me. I will monitor the establishment of the trust under the NZ Trusts Office as agreed,” ‘Aminiasi stated.

When asked how many years it would take for the Tonga government to pay off the settlement, ‘Aminiasi stated, “Payment will not be long.”

See also: Crown provides settlement to Kali Fungavaka’s widow [2]