Tongasat pays security for appeal to go ahead [1]
Friday, March 15, 2019 - 21:36
The Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd (Tongasat) will have its appeal heard in April, after paying $15,000 in security costs to the Supreme Court on March 14.
An interim ruling by the President of the Court of Appeal, O.G. Paulsen on February 28, ordered that Tongasat pay the security by March 15 or its appeal would not be heard in April.
This matter arose from an application brought by 'Akilisi Pohiva that Tongasat must provide security for his costs on their appeal, which Chief Justice Paulsen ruled successful after hearing evidence.
Tongasat is appealing a Supreme Court decision last year that declared multi-million Chinese aid fund grants paid to the company in 2008 and 2011 were unlawful.
The court decision stated this was because the funds received by the Kingdom of Tonga from the People's Republic of China was a grant and accordingly public money under the Public Finance Management Act.
Meanwhile, Tonga’s Court of Appeal which will sit from April 8-18 will hear 16 appeals, including that of Tongasat.
The Appeal Court will be presided over by Hon. Justice Kenneth Handley from Australia, Hon. Justice Sir Peter Blanchard and a new Court of Appeal Judge, Hon. Justice Tony Randerson both from New Zealand.