Results for Tonga

Matafonua Tupou (36) was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, fully suspended on conditions, for unlawful possession of drugs utensils, at Tu’atakilangi.

Tongan civil defence authorities called for a major evacuation of low-lying areas in Tongatapu and Ha'apai this morning, urging people to move inland to higher ground, after a strongly shaking 6.7 magnitude earthquake was felt in Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u at 9:47 am (TOT) today, 27 May 2024. An urgent tsunami alert issued at 9:55am local time was cancelled at 11:00am, after the tsunami threat passed. So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

Five men were found guilty of charges including theft, abetment to theft and receiving stolen property after over 300 cartons of meat were stolen from a container belonging to Star Fish company, at Ma’ufanga. One of the accused was a security guard who was paid “to look the other way” over a period of months in 2022. They will be sentenced in June.

Six firearms and 12 cartons of ammunition were intercepted and seized by Tonga Customs officials on 22 May 2024. They were found in a crate that also contained personal items consigned to a 38-year-old Tongan female from Halaleva, Tongatapu.

No official statements have been issued by the Tonga Development Bank or the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) regarding a reported move to sack the two top officials of the TDB this week.

Siosaia Taulahi (20) and Tevita Pasi (21) were imprisoned for serious housebreaking, theft and receiving valuable Tongan handicrafts worth around $231,700, stolen from the Tonga National Museum in 2022. Pasi was also sentenced for supplying methamphetamine to a minor. He manipulated a child to become involved in a high value theft of significant cultural artefacts and used the allure of illicit drugs to do so. It was a “deeply offensive crime”, said the judge. “The vandalism of the museum was a terrible act.” Most of the items stolen were never recovered.

‘Oku fakatokanga atu heni ke me’ai he kakai ‘o e fonua ́, ko e pisinisi talafi pa’anga muli ́ ‘oku fakangatangata pē ia kia kinautolu kuo ‘osi fakamafai’i pea mo ‘i ai ‘enau laiseni kuo tuku atu mei ́ he Pangikē Pule ́, ‘o fakatatau ki he tu’utu’uni ‘a e Lao ki hono Pule’i ‘o e Fakafetongi Pa’anga Muli 2018 ́, kupu 13 (1). Kapau ‘oku fakahoko ‘e ha taha ‘a e fakafetongi pa’anga muli ́ te’eki kene ma’u ha’ane laiseni, ko e hia ia pea kuo pau kene mo’ua ‘o ka halaia, ‘o fakatatau ki he ngaahi tautea ‘i he kupu 13 (3) ‘o e Lao ki hono Pule’i ‘o e Fakafetongi Pa’anga Muli 2018 ́.

An international group of scientists have arrived at the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcano this week, to conduct a month-long research to better understand the cause of the powerful 2022 eruption. NZ scientist Cornel de Ronde is leading the voyage onboard the research vessel R/V Tangaroa, from 15 May to 12 June. It will be the first voyage to HTHH to comprehensively map the seafloor, while also measuring the gravity and magnetic signatures of the remaining edifice.

The Ministry of Health celebrated 30 years of working together with the St John of God Ballarat Hospital, a milestone for their Twinning Program, that has contributed a lot to the Health Ministry in Tonga.