Tonga Police arrested a 41-year-old man from Fua‘amotu who is accused of assault and multiple robberies across Nuku‘alofa.

The arrest followed a report from a hotel, where the suspect was also staying, on Thursday, 16 November 2023. It is alleged the suspect tied up a 35-year-old Asian visitor in her room, stealing her belongings.

“The suspect, after tying both the victim’s neck and hands and stuffing some clothing material into her mouth, took off with the victim’s belongings including 2 x iphone, a gold chain and cash.

“CCTV footage aided the police in identifying the suspect, leading to an immediate search,” Tonga Police stated.

Robbery

During the search, another robbery report emerged on Monday, 20 November 2023, at Small Industries in Ma’ufanga.

“The suspect, armed with a knife, threatened an Asian male and fled in the victim’s delivery truck with goods inside, later found empty at a petrol station in Lapaha.”

With public assistance, the police tracked the stolen truck's route through CCTV footage, connecting it to the earlier hotel incident.

The suspect was apprehended on the same day from a residence at Halaleva, where police discovered in his possession five packs of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Police said they had manged to recover some of the stolen goods.

The police have remanded the suspect until his court appearance.