A Fatai man was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm last week after hitting a 42-year-old man with an axe over the head in a drunken brawl at Fatai, report the Tonga Police.

Acting Deputy Police Commander, Sione Talanoa in his Weekly Crime Report today, said the victim was admitted to Vaiola Hospital on September 19 with severe head injuries after being hit on the head with an axe.

The accused was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm, and four other suspects had also been arrested in relation to the matter, he said.

Theft rise

The Acting Deputy Commander noted that although the number of crimes committed last week decreased to 48 from the 54 offences reported the previous week, theft emerged as the main offence with 22, an increase from 15 reported the previous week.

The remaining offences included 13 assaults mainly committed in the Nuku'alofa district followed by five housebreaking and one offence against the state.