Police Magistrate, Latu Mohenoa this morning ordered Sitiveni Tafolo (52) to appear at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court for trial on various charges relating to the riots of November 16, 2006.

Tafolo, from 'Anana, has been charged with five counts. Firstly, for receiving stolen goods from his son Tavake Tafolo Jr., including a packet of toothpaste, two buckets of dripping, Salisbury corned beef, hair dye, washing detergent, a carton of Tonfon telephone cards, three packets of diapers, candles, a car battery and others, that were stolen from Lily's Chinese Shop on Vuna Road, Ma'ufanga.


Tafolo has also been charged with housebreaking at the Leiola Duty Free Shop, and two other counts for damaging properties, at the Leiola property where he is accused of smashing the shop's glass windows, and the Ministry of Finance office where he broke office windows.

He is also charged for participating in a rioting meeting that was held at Pangai Si'i on November 16, 2006, which led to the destruction of major business premises in central Nuku'alofa.

Tafolo' from Vava'u' is a security guard at the Nuku'alofa wharf and a father of seven children.

Heard speeches

Police Inspector Kelepi Faemani was the first witness called by Police prosecutor Mema Latu. The inspector read out two records of interview of the accused that were taken on December 23, 2006.

In the record it is claimed that the accused said that on November 16, 2006 at midday he attended a meeting at Pangai Si'i that was pushing for political reform in Tonga. He heard various speeches made by the leaders of the meeting, 'Akilisi Pohiva, Clive Edwards, Semisi Tapueluelu and Teisina Fuko. In the afternoon he was part of the first group of people that left for the Prime Minister's Office but he did not take part in trashing the PM's office.

Tafolo later admitted to taking part in the trashing of the Leiola Duty Free Shop, in which he smashed the shop windows, and then his wife picked him up and took him to the wharf for his shift on the evening of the same day.

The Inspector also read out the second record of interview in which the accused admitted to accepting stolen goods from his son, which he kept in his home at 'Anana, and he was remorseful of his actions.

The Police Prosecutor asked the court for the case to be submitted for trial at the Supreme Court, where he will call the rest of his witnesses.

Police Prosecutor Latu Mohenoa ordered Tafolo to appear for trial at the Supreme Court on a date to be set.

The accused was represented by Manamo'ui Kaufusi.