Two women and one man have been charged with producing pornographic videos, in a police crack down on pornography in Nuku'alofa.

Assistance Police Commander and Manager of Crimes and Operations 'Unga Fa'aoa, said this morning that four people were now charged with the production of pornographic materials, namely videos.

The first accused was a 17-year-old boy from Nukunuku. The three latest accused included two women aged 20 years and 19 years of Kolofo'ou and Houmakelikao and a 23-year-old man from Kolofo'ou, who were all set to appear at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on August 3.  Investigations of offences continued, he said.

Problem

'Unga said there were a lot of pornographic videos circulating in Tongatapu, as they were sent from one phone to another phone via bluetooth.

"They are locally produced pornographic videos shot on mobile phones, and we are working with the two phone companies to look at the telephones," he said. 

'Unga said these were the first prosecutions sought under the Pornography Control Act 2002, which criminalised the production, selling, hiring and knowingly allowing to sell or hire pornographic material. The maximum penalty for any person in breach of this section is a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or both the imprisonment and fine.

He said that the police were concerned with the involvement of youths and the use of mobile phones. "But we have not received any evidence of these acts being done for payment," he said.

Concern

Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said the police were concerned with this sort of crime as it involved young people, and it was an ugly and distressing crime that, sadly, happened everywhere including Tonga.