Six Georgian nationals who received two-years suspended sentences after pleading guilty to knowingly dealing with forged documents, when they entered Tonga on stolen Greek passports in September, have paid fines of $1,000 pa’anga each to the Supreme Court and are still in the country. 

On October 26, Koba Shinjkashvili, Zaza Tsikarishvili, Nino Menabdishvili, Genadi Gacechechildaze, Mai Garibashvili and Dato Dekanoidze pleaded guilty and submitted they would leave Tonga as soon as they had their return flights organised, which they would pay for.

They were ordered to leave Tonga within two-weeks from October 26, when they were sentenced (meaning they must leave by November 9). 

Prosecution confirmed today that the six had paid their fines as ordered by the judge, within seven-days from the date of their sentencing.

"We know police still have their passports and will be released to them when they leave Tonga," said the prosecutor.