Tonga Police has named ‘Asiata Masima (54) from Ha’ateiho, as the man arrested on Saturday 18 November on a charge of attempted murder.

“The suspect who claimed to be a political activist, appeared in the Magistrate court yesterday, 20 November 2023 and has been charged with attempted murder after a livestreaming footage via social media.

“He was ordered to remain in police custody until Monday, 27 November 2023 and his bail terms will be further reviewed on Wednesday, 22 November 2023. Additional charges may pursue after our ongoing investigation into this matter,” Tonga Police stated this morning.

Meanwhile, Tonga Police reminded all users of social media: “to refrain from further comments and engaging in activities on social media that could jeopardize the integrity of the ongoing investigations. Any actions or statements that incite violence, promote hatred, or compromise the safety of individuals will not be tolerated and will be investigated for potential prosecutions.”

“Tonga Police is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring a fair and impartial investigation. We will continue to work to gather all relevant evidence and explore any potential links to other individuals or groups involved in these incidents.

“We would like to remind the public that further charges may be laid as the investigation progresses.”

No further details are available at this stage of the investigation.