Youths arrested in weekend of violence [1]
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 09:53. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A SERIES of violent incidents erupting in the capital Nuku'alofa over the weekend saw students fighting in central Nuku'alofa while another brawl in a Vuna Road bar left a security guard hospitalised.
At the same time a male person suspected to be one of the two escaped prisoners who remains at large in Tongatapu was suspected to have shot at a prison guard inside the Hu'atolitoli Prison compound on Saturday night, August 21. The prison guard was not injured.
After the shooting incident at Hu'atolitoli Prison, Deputy Police Commander Taniela Faletau, said an armed police team had responded and he advised the public that the prison escapees are armed and pose a risk to the community.
He said information from the prisons was that they positively suspected the male person to be Sione Uatekini, one the two escaped male prisoners who broke out on July 22. He also reassured the public that the armed police team are working tirelessly with prison officers to apprehend these two men.
He also confirmed, that two shots were fired at the prison guard while he was pursuing the suspect inside the prison compound.
"Circumstances on Saturday night and information indicates that prison escapees are armed and pose a risk to the community. The public is hereby notified to be cautious and inform police of any suspicious activities."
He also advised the public not to attempt to apprehend these escapees but to inform the police immediately.
Suspect
Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Prisons Sione Falemanu said, they strongly suspect the shooter to be one of the escapees Sione Uatekini. The guard who chased the suspect reported that when he shone his flashlight on the suspect he identified a tall slim figure matching the build of Sione Uatekini.
He said that the other male prisoner, Peni 'Inia, is shorter and plumper and does not fit the description of the shooter.
The Superintendent said there is no other evidence in suspecting Sione to be the shooter, but prison guards believed that he had been sneaking in to the prison delivering goods like cigarettes and alcohol to prisoners.
Student violence
In another incident of student violence police have charged two male students from Liahona High School with assault after two male students from Tonga College aged 16 and 17 years old sustained minor injuries from a fight.
Dozens of students were involved in the melee on Taufa'ahau Road in the Queen Salote Hall roundabout area on Friday, August 20
The Deputy Commander said the student violence broke out between male students of Liahona High School and Tonga College.
"This is not something Tonga should be proud of and these students who are hiding behind school uniforms and committing these crimes should know they would be dealt with according to the law," he said.
He warned that the few students who were committing such violent acts would be held fully responsible for their actions because the public should not fear for their safety nor be threatened by these violent breakouts.
Bar brawl
In a Ma'ufanga bar brawl on Saturday night, August 21 a security guard was injured and hospitalised after being beaten up by a group of young men.
Police arrested three male persons between the ages of 19 to 25 years in relation to an assault on the 35-year-old security guard who was working at The Roadhouse bar on Vuna Road.
Investigations into the brawl were ongoing, said the Deputy Commander.