Results for Tonga police

Six overseas Tongans have been deported to Tonga or have voluntarily left New Zealand after their criminal records were wrongly wiped-off by Tonga Police under a former practice that remains under police investigation in Nuku'alofa, while New Zealand immigration alerts have been issued at borders on the names of other Tongan individuals who have been identified to have concealed criminal records.

Tonga's Deputy Commissioner of Police Taniela Faletau (56) has taken up voluntary retirement effective March 1, after over 30-years of service. Trained in New Zealand the top cop was farewelled with a parade at the Police Headquarters in Longolongo, on Wednesday February 20.

New Zealand's immigration minister has put an immediate hold on Tongan visa applications that require a police clearance, expressing his serious concern over incorrect declarations.

Visiting Tonga, Senator Louise Pratt of Western Australia, presented new uniforms to Tonga Police officers at the Police Headquarter in Longlongo today. This is part of a Tonga Police Development Program funded by a Tri-Partite Development Agreement between Tonga, Australia and New Zealand. Photos by Linny Folau.

Three male Police Constables who are each charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of a 20-year-old man at Vaini, appeared at the Mu'a Magistrate's Court this morning and will be released on bail until their next court appearance, on January 14, 2013.

"Jereve" is the name of a yacht in which a badly decomposed male body was found by divers on November 7, after it ran aground on a reef in Luatafito atoll located 20km from the Vava'u Island Group. Police confirmed the yacht is now a crime scene, is subject to an International Multi-Jurisdictional Law Enforcement operation spanning four countries from the United States, Australia, Cook Islands and Tonga, and including the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

A 25-year-old man had drowned yesterday, Thursday October 25 after his leg apparently got tangled in a nylon line that he used while diving for sea cucumber, on the northern coast of 'Atata Island.

Six male accused, including five Tongan police officers and one detainee, have each been charged with manslaughter at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court this afternoon, and were expected to be released on bail later today, September 27. The three police officers who were arrested today included the supervising officer identified as Inspector Kelepi Hala'ufia, with the two police constables named as Manu Tu'ivai and Tevita Vakalahi.

Tonga's Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said today that New Zealand Police officer Kali Fungavaka was beaten to death in Tonga. Two policemen who were charged with assault in connection with his death in police custody, will now face new upgraded charges of manslaughter in court on Monday, September 3, while a murder charge against a civilian will be reduced from murder to manslaughter.