Inquest for death in police custody set for Thursday [1]
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 - 20:31
An inquest is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 28 July over the death of a 22-year-old man in a cell at Mu’a Police Station.
Police Commissioner Shane McLennan told Matangi Tonga today, that following the inquest details will be released relating to the identity of the deceased and the determined cause of death.
"As a result of inspections conducted across the country, the Police Cells at Nukunuku in west Tongatapu have also been closed until further notice."
He said Tonga Police members at Police District 3 will now be using the Police Watch house at Central Station, Nuku’alofa, which has CCTV fitted to the cells.
No CCTV is currently fitted to any other police cells in Tonga.
The Commissioner said that Tonga Police Senior Executive were also ensuring strong compliance with custody management processes, particularly at this time on the outer islands.
Second death
Meanwhile, this is the second death in police custody at the same station just this month.
Tonga Police reported yesterday that the circumstances of the death indicates suicide.
The young man from Lapaha was reported to have been “overly intoxicated” when arrested at around 5:15pm on Saturday, 23 July from a petrol station at Lapaha.
The arrest was made after a complaint and call for assistance from staff at the petrol station.
The first death in police custody was a 69-year-old man, who was found dead in his cell on 4 July.
His death was ruled as a suicide, after an inquest.