Results for Police and Crime

Sangstar Saulala, the chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union, and the manager and the main presenter of the Oceania Broadcasting Network OBN was arrested on Thursday evening, February 22 and charged with crimes relating to the riot of 16/11.

After the Tongan Cabinet extended the Emergency Powers for another 30 days, effective from Friday, February 16, the Tonga Defence Services has removed all their check points from the central Nuku'alofa area.

The Tongan public, the government and the police were unanimous in their desire for the Tonga Police Force to be reformed a seven-members assessment team from Australia and New Zealand have found.

Police Magistrate Samiu Palu this morning adjourned again the court appearance of 'Akilisi Pohiva, Tu'i Uata and Semisi Sika to Friday Febuary 9.

Officers of the New Zealand Police will remain in Tonga until March this year, taking part in the criminal investigation into the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business district on November 16, 2006.

Five weeks after the riots that destroyed about 80% of the Nuku'alofa business centre, the Deputy Police Commander, Taniela Faletau said today, that there was still a lot of criminal investigation work to do to bring those who were responsible to justice.

By this morning, the Tonga Police had arrested a total of 702 suspects involved in the violent riot that destroyed central Nuku'alofa on November 16.

Some 638 suspects were arrested and over 500 have been charged by the Tonga Police for arson, theft and other offences relating to their participation in the destruction of the Nuku'alofa business centre on November 16.

Police have identified the remains of one of the seven people who are known to have died in the fire that gutted the Shoreline Building set alight by arsonists on November 16.