Jailed former Cabinet Ministers ‘Etuate Lavulavu and his wife ‘Akosita, were freed by the Appeal Court today, when their criminal convictions were quashed, in a successful appeal that found their trial was unfair. However, the Appeal Court was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to support convictions and remitted their cases for a retrial at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Results for 'Akosita Lavulavu
Tuesday 11 October 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, who is not only the President of the Tonga Rugby Union but also chairs the interim group to manage Tonga’s Rugby League affairs, had a few words to say about rugby in parliament this morning. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Friday 2 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Wednesday 30 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament resumed yesterday morning, 29 June after it had a fortnight break after the House passed the 2021-2022 National Budget on 10 June. It was a slow start on Tuesday. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Thursday 17 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The convicted Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu (36) is on leave until the conclusion of her legal proceedings, the Prime Minister’s Office announced this morning. 'Akosita and her husband 'Etuate (62) are to be sentenced on July 2, after they were found guilty of obtaining over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences from a TVET education fund.

Friday 4 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.”

Thursday 13 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hon. Mr Justice Cooper has rejected an application that he recuse himself from presiding over the Lavulavu trial. The application was made by 'Etuatu Lavulavu on 10 May. The judge concluded that evidence during the trial suggested that Lavulavu's complaints that he undermined its fairness, were without any foundation. The trial against the Lavulavu couple continues in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Wednesday 12 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Tuesday 13 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial against a current Cabinet Minister and People’s Representative to Parliament, ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, also a former Cabinet Minister, started on April 12 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. The couple have pleaded not guilty to three joint counts of obtaining a total of over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences.

Wednesday 10 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Wednesday 29 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new date is to be set for the joint trial of the Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism Hon ‘Akosita Lavulavu and husband ‘Etuate, at the Supreme Court.

Friday 30 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Supreme Court has rejected an application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu to have a separate trial from his wife ‘Akosita Lavulavu on forgery charges.

Thursday 29 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The forgery trial against a current People’s Representative to Parliament ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu is now set for 2020.

Thursday 1 August 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The fraud trial against Vava'u People’s Representative to Parliament, ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, which was to start in September has been delayed.

Wednesday 5 June 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Former Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, who are charged with fraud relating to a number of irregularities in an audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016 were permitted to apply for judicial review of the audit.

Monday 4 February 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Former Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu today pleaded not guilty to fraud charges at the Supreme Court.

Tuesday 23 October 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two new accused have been charged in relation to the fraud case against a former Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu.

Thursday 12 July 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Former Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, who are facing fraud charges had their case adjourned yet again to July 16.
