Results for Police and Crime

Six men accused of manslaughter, including five Tongan police officers and one detainee, are expected to appear at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court this week on Friday, November 2.

A second drowning death of a fisherman off Tongatapu was reported by the Tonga Police this afternoon. The body of a 22 year old fisherman from Patangata was found on the reef today by other fishermen returning from Pangaimotu Island.

The Tonga Police need to win back the trust and confidence of the public after the homicide death of Kali Fungavaka in Nuku'alofa had tarnished the Police's reputation both locally and internationally, the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano told the 43rd Commissioned Officers two-day Annual Conference.

Heamani Lopeti who escaped from the Nuku'alofa Police Station was recaptured by police on Saturday, October 13 in connection with the armed robbery at a shop in Haveluloto. Two other suspects remain at large.

Police are hunting for an escaped prisoner Heamani Lopeti, otherwise known as Heamani Nehoa, who escaped from the Nuku'alofa Police station on Monday, October 8. The escapee has a red bird tattooed on his right arm, with a second tattoo of Tongan kupesi design with the words 'Apifo'ou College, Lupeni Tangimana and Kele Tokai, on his left arm.

Tonga police are hunting armed robbers who held-up a security guard with a rifle at a shop in Haveluloto last Friday October 5, including one suspect who was arrested but has escaped from police custody.

Tonga's Police Commissioner did not expect any more people would be charged in relation to the death of New Zealand Police Officer Kali Fungavaka in Tonga, but he did not rule out the possibility as the homicide investigation continues. He said the investigation had been done with integrity but that the police still had a long way to go in restoring public confidence.

Tonga's Police Commissioner said it is a very painstaking job collating all the information and cross referencing it to ensure they give the Solicitor General the best possible information for him to decide on what charges are finally laid in relation to the death of New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavaka.

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.