Copied-from-Matangi-Tonga-Online.

A COMPLAINT by a Chief Executive Officer of a Government Ministry that information was being unofficially released, led police to seize four computers from the Finance ministry's Budget Division office last week.

Police Commander Chris Kelley said today August 31, that the matter was under the Official Secrets Act.

Police with a search warrant on Monday, August 23, raided the Budget Division office located on the top floor of the Tonga Development Bank building in central Nuku'alofa.

Commander Kelley confirmed that they had received a complaint from a government CEO, whose name he did not disclose, that information was being released from government.

"As a result off that I directed an investigation take place and that included inquiries at the Ministry of Finance where we did take possession of four computers," said the Commander.

He also said police had subsequently finished their work with the items and had returned the computers to the ministry so they could continue their work.

"The complaint in my opinion is very reasonable complaint and I am rather hopeful that we would get to the bottom of it; and that requires a bit of work and analysis, obviously it involves information technology, hence was the reason for us in taking the computers."

No one had been charged at this stage, police would have to see if there was sufficient evidence to charge any person.

"But don't jump to conclusion about any individual or ministry or any situation. We are here to get to the bottom of the situation and will release any details in due course as we are investigating the complaint," said the Commander.