Five men are detained in Hu’atolitoli Prison, accused of kidnapping a father and son in Nuku’alofa on July 24 and taking a ransom of nearly half a million pa‘anga from their families.

The Police said that a total of $400,000, in cheques and cash, was paid by the relatives before the victims were released on the evening of Thursday, July 25.

Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Unga Fa’aoa said the police learned about the ransom dealing after it was paid, when they were informed that the kidnappers would be at one of the local banks to cash the cheques.

The police executed an operation and arrested the accused at the ANZ Bank and confiscated two cheques amounting to $325,000 on Friday, July 26. However, the cash balance had not been recovered, he said.

Missing

The Police had received a missing persons report about the Chinese father and son who went missing the day earlier.

He said victims went to a residence at ‘Umusi for a business meeting with other Chinese men when it was alleged they were kidnapped and kept at a village outside of Nuku’alofa. 

While the father and son were detained by the accused, their relatives were asked to pay a substantial amount of money for their release and a $400,000 ransom was paid.

Prison

The five accused include three Chinese men (two are naturalized Tongans) and two local Tongans who have been charged with armed robbery and unlawful imprisonment. They were to remain in police custody for a month and have been transferred to Hu’atolitoli Prison to wait for a court date.

“Armed robbery is a serious offence in Tonga punishable with up to 20 years imprisonment,” said the Deputy Commissioner.