After the non-appearance of a key prosecution witness, charges were dropped by the prosecution in the trial of Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione.

Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop on 23 April issued an Order of Nolle Prosequi and Verdict of Not Guilty at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

Taione, a former member of parliament for Tongatapu 8, was brought to trial on 21 April on two charges of forgery and obtaining by false pretence,

From his indictment, the charge of forgery was that in March 2024 at Longolongo, he allegedly made a false document, when he wrote an authorisation letter with intent to deceive the Ministry of Infrastructure purporting that the owner of a Blue 2022 Ford Ranger had authorised its transfer to another person.

The other charge was that at Mailetaha, Taione allegedly obtained for another person $68,000 by false pretence, when he allegedly represented in a letter that the owner had authorised the registration of his Ford Ranger. He pleaded not guilty to both charges in January 2025.

At the close of the complainant’s evidence and the non-appearance from the prosecution’s next key witness, the matter was adjourned to 22 April to allow the execution of a bench warrant for that witness.

The Prosecution informed the court on 23 April that the witness was not located and accordingly entered a nolle prosequi, stated the Lord Chief Justice.

“Accordingly, I find the defendant not guilty of the charges. The matter is now closed with no order as to costs.”

Nolle prosequi (often abbreviated as nol. pros.) is a Latin legal phrase meaning "to be unwilling to pursue" or "we shall no longer prosecute". It is a formal, voluntary decision by a prosecutor or plaintiff to drop or dismiss a criminal charge or lawsuit before a verdict is reached.