A 29-year-old Ha'apai man, who works as a first mate for the Uata Shipping Company, will face trial on charges relating to the destruction of the Shoreline Office and the Pacific Royal Hotel in the Nuku'alofa riots of November 16, 2006.

Police Magistrate Latu Mohenoa today ordered 'Etueni Kava Tatu'i to appear in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on a date to be set for trial on charges relating to the damages of the Shoreline office and Pacific Royale Hotel on November 16, 2006.

Tatu'i, who originates from Mo'unga'one, Ha'apai, but now resides at Touliki, was charged with three counts including participating in a riot that resulted in the damage of properties. He was charged with damaging the property of the Pacific Royale Hotel by throwing a rock and smashed its glass window; and for the damage of the Shoreline office by throwing a rock and smashing its glass windows.

At the preliminary hearing in the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court Police Prosecutor Mema Latu called only one witness to give evidence, Police Inspector Tevita Fisi'ilose who read a record of interview of the accused taken on December 5, 2006 at the Nuku'alofa Police Station.

The accused had stated to the police that on November 16, 2006 he came in the late afternoon after work and stood at the roadside at Pangai Si'i where he watched the meeting and speeches. He then left the park and walked to a Chinese retail shop opposite the Pacific Royale Hotel to buy a cigarette. As he was walking back to Pangai Si'i he stated that he met a crowd of people who were trashing and throwing things at the Prime Minister's Office, and he followed them and watched the trashing and smashing of the Finance office, the Parliament office and the Molisi Tonga Supermarket.

Rock

In the police statement he then confessed that it was not until they reached the hotel that he took up a rock and threw it at the glass window and smashed it, and he continued with rioters to the Shoreline Office, where he committed the same action by throwing a rock at the office windows.

When asked by the police why he commited these actions, he replied that he did it because he heard the people saying that their submission for political reform was not answered; and it was not until his wife lectured him that he felt remorse about what he did.

Police Prosecutor Mema Latu then asked the court to submit the previous testimonies of his five other witnesses and requested that he would not call them to give testimony on this case because their evidence was on the same thing as recorded in previous 16/11 court cases.

These witnesses included police inspectors and a former supervisor at the Pacific Royale Hotel, Ane Sekona, and Shoreline supervisor, 'Alisi Tu'inukuafe, whose evidence confirmed that their particular premises were destroyed by rioters on November 16, 2006.

Police Prosecutor Mohenoa then passed there was a case to be heard and ordered for the accused to appear for trial at the Supreme Court.

The accused was represented by Manamo'ui Kaufusi.