A Special Investigation Task Force of the Tongan Police is investigating an embezzlement network at the Nuku'alofa Branch of the  Westpac Bank of Tonga, the Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said that ten former employees have been charged with multiple counts of embezzlement, the highest number of employees to be charged with crime against one private company in Tonga.

Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said the accused charged are five men and five women appeared at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on March 5.

He said they were released on bail until their next court appearance on Monday, March 12, on the conditions that they surrender their passports and were prohibited from traveling overseas or outside of Tongatapu.

Taniela said two employees, a man and a woman were first charged last week with embezzlement and theft. On March 5, police charged another eight former employees with similar offenses, bringing the total number to 10.

He said the magnitude of the crime allegedly committed at the bank is becoming big and the police are treating it that way.

We have put together a Special Investigation Task force to deal solely with this investigation and we expect to lay more charges as our investigation continues, he said.

Taniela said police received a complaint from the bank earlier this year and they started with a few investigators on the case. But the investigation has become big in regards to the number of people charged so far that we put together a task force dedicated to this investigation, he said.

He said all accused who were employees at Westpac Bank of Tonga in Nuku'alofa have now been let go by the bank due to the charges laid against them.

No further details will be released at this stage because it remains under investigation, he said.

Court

Police Prosecutor Mema Latu who was in court when the accused appeared said one person is facing multiple charges and he expected that the amount allegedly stolen could reach up to six figures.

He said they would appear in open court next week to decide how to proceed with their cases.