By Katalina Siasau

Tonga Police have launched a homicide investigation after a young man was found dead on the road in Hahake last week. The victim was confirmed to be  a 21-year-old male from Nakolo, who police said was run over by a vehicle, and had major injuries suspected to have happened prior to the road incident.

Chief of Police at Mu'a Police Station, Saimone Fifita, told Matangi Tonga that the police responded at around 4:00am on Tuesday, 3 December to a report of a body found on the road in Hahake, on Hala Liku between Nakolo and Fua'amotu.

Fifita said the police found a deceased person on the road.

"After examining the area and taking photos on the scene, the body was rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed the person already dead."

With help from close family members, police were able to identify and confirm the identify of the victim as a 21-year-old male from Nakolo, whom the Police did not name.

The doctor's post-mortem report confirmed that the young man was run over by a car.

Other major injuries were suspected to have happened prior to the road incident. The police alleged the victim was under the influence of alcohol.

The victim's remains are held in the hospital while the investigation is ongoing.

NZ driver

Fifita said the police had seized a suspect vehicle and identified a male person who was driving, who was now in New Zealand.

The family of the driver told police that it was not a planned escape but that the driver, who is a New Zealand resident, was meant to leave Tonga that same day, Tuesday, 3 December.

No further information was available at this stage.