Second death in police custody, Mu'a cells shut down [1]
Monday, July 25, 2022 - 17:58
A 22-year-old man was found dead in a cell at the Mu'a Police station on Saturday with hours of his arrest. It was the second death in police custody at the same station this month. Police claimed that the circumstances indicated suicide, as they did with the earlier death in custody on 4 July.
The arrest was made after a complaint and call for assistance from staff at the petrol station.
“Police found the young man dead within hours in a police cell where he was placed, in circumstances indicating suicide.”
Professional standards investigation
Commissioner Shane McLennan said they needed to fix their problems, so this would never happen again.
He has ordered an immediate response.
“Investigations into all deaths in custody are to be a priority and if needed, further resources/investigators will be provided to assist the Professional Standards Investigators until these investigations are completed.
An inspection and assessment of all cells used by Tonga Police throughout Tonga starts today. This will be followed by the consideration of options needed to remedy any deficiencies with a matter of urgency, he said.
The Tonga Police Custody Management Policy is to be reviewed and updated this week.
“Some in-service training on custody management and human rights, is to be provided to all frontline staff as a matter of priority,” he said.
"Investigation into this regrettable incident is underway, and an inquest will be held upon completion of the investigation."
No CCTV
Meanwhile, the first death in police custody at Mu'a was reported earlier this month.
The deceased was a 69-year-old man, also from Lapaha, who was detained in cells at the Mu’a Police Station, for the same reason of intoxication.
Police reported that he was found dead in the cell on Monday morning, 4 July with circumstances indicating suicide.
An inquest confirmed the death was by suicide.
There are no CCTV cameras at Mu'a Police station, as it is the case in other district stations, except for the Central Station in the CBD.
It is understood that with the cells at Mu'a closed, all arrests made in this distrcit will be transferred to the Nuku'alofa Central Police Station.