In a daylight robbery, three armed men ambushed a business cashier and shot her driver outside the commercial branch of the Westpac Bank of Tonga on Monday, May 26, snatching $3,000 cash.

Police are hunting the robbers who shot delivery driver Sitiveni Lei (27) in the knee. The three dressed in hooded jackets, covered their faces with masks and ambushed four Country Fried Chicken employees outside the bank in the Si'i Kae Ola Supermarket carpark in central Nuku'alofa.

Deputy Commander of Police, Taniela Faletau confirmed that the three persons involved in the crime are suspected to be men. He said the events took place around 3pm when the four employees arrived at the parking of the Westpac Bank of Tonga branch and the female employee got out of the car to go and deposit the money in the bank.

At the same time a white car pulled up beside them and two men disguised with masks and hooded jackets got out with guns and forcefully tried to take the money.

He said that a male employee who accompanied the girl got out of their vehicle to help her but he ended up getting shot and the robbers fled.

The police confirmed today, that the vehicle used by the armed robbers was a white car with a black back window screen and they currently remain at large in Nuku'alofa.

The Deputy Commander said the police are continuing their investigation to hunt down and arrest the robbers. The gun shot victim who comes from the village of 'Ahau is still recovering in the Vaiola Hospital.

Country Fried Chicken is one of a group of companies owned by Sunil Bansal.

Third shooting

This is the third shooting in Nuku'alofa this year.

In January at Kolofo'ou a man shot local businesswoman Mosimani Helu in the head before executing himself. Mosimani died later the same day from her injury.

In April a estranged husband at Ha'ateiho shot and injured his wife, and then shot and injured one of his drinking companions before fatally shooting himself in the head.

In October 2006, in an attempted armed robbery a Chinese woman was shot in the side of he abdomen, and severely injured while working in her shop at Tofoa.

In May this year, the suspected gunman identified as a 34-year old man from Kolonga was arrested and charged with attempted murder over the shooting.