Nuku'alofa’s Supreme Court has thrown out a civil claim by a former Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, who was seeking $5.75 million pa'anga in damages from the Kingdom of Tonga and others, for alleged “malicious prosecution” of him on criminal charges relating to the so-called ‘Tongan Passports Scandal’. The Lord Chief Justice M. H. Whitten, in a 78-page judgment on 28 October, set out details of how the passports investigation began and listed evidence collected by the Serious Organised Transnational Crime Unit. “I find that there was no evidence of any improper purpose for the prosecution. The only purpose discernible from the evidence was the proper invocation of the criminal law,” he stated.
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Results for Lord Tu'ivakano
Chief Justice dismisses $5.75 million damages claim by Lord Tu'ivakano in ‘Tongan passports scandal’
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 9 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Court of Appeal has acquitted Lord Tu'ivakano on two charges of making a false statement to obtain a Tongan passport and perjury, after quashing the convictions in a 22-pages written judgment released in Nuku'alofa on Friday.
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Thursday 22 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal by Lord Tu'ivakano against his conviction is now awaiting judgment from Tonga's Court of Appeal.
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Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Court of Appeal second session, which will hear Lord Tu’ivakano's appeal against his conviction is deferred to start on October 19 in Nuku'alofa.
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Friday 4 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal by Lord Tu’ivakano against his conviction by a jury, will be heard on September 22 by Tonga’s Appeal Court in Nuku’alofa.
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Friday 24 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Tu'ivakano was sentenced today to two-years imprisonment, which was fully suspended, for charges relating to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals. He was also fined $4,000 for possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license. In sentencing, the Chief Justice also took into consideration the potential ramifications of s.37 of the Land Act, clause 23 of the Constitution and s.386 of the Companies Act. (If the prison sentence was more than two years the noble would lose his hereditary rights.)
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Friday 17 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's former Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano, will be sentenced on Friday, April 24 following his conviction on four counts, two of which relate to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals.
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Monday 9 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A jury of seven has found former Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano guilty on three charges that include making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport and perjury, at the end of a 21-days trial at the Supreme Court. The accused will be sentenced next month.
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Friday 6 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has dropped six charges of bribery and money laundering against Lord Tu'ivakano, in relation to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals. The jury trial proceeds next week on three remaining charges against the former Prime Minister.
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Wednesday 4 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Tu’ivakano has pleaded guilty this morning, March 4 to possession of an arm without a license. He will be sentenced on a later date.
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Wednesday 4 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Tu’ivakano has denied offences made against him relating to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals, when he gave evidence as the first witness for defense, on March 3.
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Monday 2 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The jury trial against Lord Tu'ivakano on offences relating to the issuance of Tongan passports continues in its fourth week, with the defence opening its case today, submitting insufficient evidence against the accused.
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Wednesday 26 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The jury trial against Lord Tu'ivakano on offences relating to the issuance of Tongan passports continues with revelations that legal advice from the then Acting Attorney General against the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese applicants was ignored. The court was told this was despite real concerns of criminal activity.
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Saturday 22 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial against Lord Tu'ivakano on offences relating to Tongan passports, heard from a Crown witness, that despite lack of concrete evidence to prove naturalisation in two passport applications, the accused still directed for their issuance.
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Tuesday 18 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The jury trial against Lord Tu’ivakano who is charged with 10 counts, mostly passport related offences is continuing, in its second week at the Supreme Court, in Nuku'alofa.
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Thursday 13 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The jury trial against Lord Tu’ivakano who is charged with 10 counts, mostly passport related offences continues at the Supreme Court, in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 11 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Tu’ivakano has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges, five of which are for acceptance of a bribe by a government servant, at the start of his jury trial, at the Supreme Court today, February 11. By Linny Folau.
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Tuesday 11 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial of former Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano, who is facing multiple charges in relation to passport offences, began on Monday 10 February and a jury has been selected and sworn in at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
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Thursday 23 January 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial for Lord Tu’ivakano on charges relating to the issuance of Tongan passports starts on February 10, at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.
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Tuesday 3 December 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Separate trials will be held in 2020 for Lord Tu’ivakano and two other co-accused, who are charged with Tongan passport offences at the Supreme Court.
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