A senior police officer has been suspended from Tonga Police duty for allegations of assault against a police recruit.

Tonga Commissioner of Police Steve Caldwell, in a statement today said he had suspended  that the 42-year-old male Senior Police Officer on Tuesday 27 October 2020.

“I have set standards and expect them to be met from all ranks within the Tonga Police,” he said.

“Every police officer is accountable to the law, not above it. The public rightly expect the highest levels of professionalism and ethical behaviour from their Police.”

Police have charged the suspended police officer with assault and bodily harm. He will appear at the Magistrate's Court early next week.