A six-year-old boy drowned at a public swimming pool on the seafront at Popua yesterday afternoon, January 21. This is the first death reported from drowning in Tonga for the New Year.

Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said today that the six-year-old boy was at the pool with other family members when he drowned.

The incident was reported to the police at 6:30pm yesterday afternoon.

No further details were released while police were still looking into the incident. But an inquest was to be held this afternoon.

Indecent Assault

Recent cases reported by the Tonga Police included the charging of a 72-year-old male with the indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl in Nuku'alofa.

Police charged the accused on January 18 and he appeared at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on January 21. The case was adjourned to January 25, for preliminary enquiries.

No further details were released, as the matter is now with the court.