Results for 'Akosita Lavulavu

‘Akosita Lavulavu’s application to the courts for leave to appeal against a ruling by Acting Justice Langi, was refused in Nuku’alofa. Justice Randerson stated he had no hesitation in concluding that this appeal had no merit. There was nothing to suggest the judge will not deal with the case fairly, objectively and in accordance with her judicial oath, he said.

The re-trial of multiple charges against former government ministers, ‘Etuate and ‘Akosita Lavulavu, is adjourned to start on 30 October, after Acting Justice Langi rejected a proposal that it be deferred to early 2024, at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, citing various reasons for urgency to proceed.

An application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu to strike out his prosecution, claiming it was an abuse of process, was struck out by the Lord Chief Justice on 19 May. Together with his wife, 'Akosita Lavulavu they will stand a re-trial on an amended indictment. The Lord Chief Justice said the charges are serious and there is a powerful public interest in ensuring that they are tried properly, fairly and according to law.

Questions in parliament this morning once again failed to win any clarity from the Prime Minister on the salaried status of his jailed Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism. No new ministers have been appointed to the portfolios held by 'Akosita Lavulavu, who started five years imprisonment on Friday July 2. It appears that the Prime Minister is not going to give her a red card. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Six years prison sentences were imposed on the Lavulavu couple this morning in their sentencing at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. The judge noted that both had shown no remorse and made no attempts to repay over $500,000 pa'anga of TVET education funds they had plundered. Probation reports said 'Etuate was known to be “deceitful” and 'Akosita's dishonesty proved her true character. 'Akosita is a Minister in the Tu'i'onetoa government.

The convicted Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband ’Etuate (62) will be sentenced on Friday, July 2 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

Tongan Cabinet Minister 'Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu (62) plundered TVET grant funds for themselves in a systemic fraud that a Nuku'alofa Supreme Court judge today called, “an example of the worst sort of dishonesty.”

The trial against current Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband 'Etuate Lavulavu is going ahead, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there is a criminal case to answer against both of them on all three counts. They are jointly charged with obtaining over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences, relating to a number of irregularities in an audit at the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute. It is alleged that the couple knowingly falsified student applications in order to claim TVET grants.

The forgery trial against a current Cabinet Minister and People’s Representative to Parliament ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate is now expected to start in April.