A very high-ranking Tongan police officer was dismissed last month for serious misconduct after he took an offender who was remanded in custody for robbery to his home in Nuku'alofa on New Year's Day. The prisoner attacked the officer's wife when the officer left the house, and inflicted serious injuries on the woman, including serious injuries and broken bones. She was hospitalized.

Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said the offender was arrested and charged immediately after the incident. 

He said the prisoner had previously assaulted the senior officer's wife in 2004 and was sentenced to imprisonment for four and a half years, with 18 months suspended for causing grevious bodily harm.

"This was a serious breach of conduct by the senior officer to take the prisoner to his home after the court ordered that he be kept in custody at the Police Headquarters in Longolongo. It is not for the police to ignore this order and act otherwise," said the Police Commissioner.

Commissioner O'Fee said that a total of 24 police officers had been disciplined, including three who were dismissed, 10 were suspended without pay, five charged with various offences and six remained under police investigation.

Suspension

Commissioner O'Fee said of the 10 suspended officers, five officers have been charged with manslaughter for the homicide death of New Zealand Police officer Kali Fungavaka, while two are facing the same charge for the death of 'Inoke Finau Vala Pepa (20) in Vaini last year.

He said the other suspensions were for other misconduct including alleged involvement in drug importation.

At the same time five officers have been charged for assault and other acts of dishonesty while six who are still working remain under police investigation for theft and assault, he said.

Discipline

The Commissioner said Tonga Police have been criticized for not policing the misconduct of its police officers.

He said some criticisms were unfair claiming they had been showing favouritism and not prosecuting their senior police officers.

"I have never disputed the fact that we have problems, but we do have really good staff and we had some staff that we have disciplined since I have been here," he said.

"Tonga Police have got a long way to go. But when a misconduct is brought to my attention or to members of my senior staff we deal with it in the fairest and best way we know how."