Results for Tonga

‘Elikisoni Langi (67) was fined $10,000 pa’anga for importing prohibited goods, 5,000 rounds of ammunition and five .22 rifles, concealed inside a crate at the wharf in 2019.

Sione Uaisele Fifita (30) was sentenced to three-years and 10-months imprisonment for numerous counts, that included forgery and embezzlement of $29,803 from his employer in separate cases.

Two women, including a former police officer, who advertised an illegal pyramid scheme, were ordered by the Supreme Court to pay $4,000 each or in default face imprisonment. "This sentence should act as a warning that pyramid and/or ponzi schemes are illegal in Tonga and anyone thinking of operating such a scheme will face severe punishment," warned the Judge.

One man has died, while three men remain missing after their small open boat sank between Niutoua and 'Eueiki on Tuesday night, 30 August, with six men onboard. One man swam to Niutoua and another was rescued.

Over 120 runners took part in a fun marathon hosted by the Tonga Animal Welfare Society on Saturday, 27 August, to raise funds to assist its work in increasing awareness and provision of medical care for animals.

Tonga's midnight curfew has been eased by to start at 1:00am to 5:00am, as weekly flights to Tonga have increased, since the gradual re-opening of Tonga’s international border on 1 August. Two national State of Emergencies have also been renewed.

Customs officers have received sophisticated inspection equipment under a $10 million project to help them detect smuggling or other criminal activities at Tonga's borders. China has provided non-intrusive imaging inspection equipment that will assist the Ministry of Revenue and Customs.

A 62-year old man was sentenced to seven-years imprisonment for six counts of indecent assault of a minor aged 12 years old, on Tongatapu.

While the government is aiming to improve the growth of electronic commerce, to enable more people in Tonga to fully utilize the ICT infrastructure and skills already in place, there is still a long way to go, says Tonga's trade minister, in the first ‘E-Commerce Strategy and Roadmap for Tonga’.