Kiliki heni This news in Tongan ke ke lau e ongoongo ni 'i he lea faka-Tonga
A local media report spread on Facebook Sunday 1 claiming a house in Sopu was where Tonga's Democratic Party Leader 'Akilisi Pohiva lived was damaged by fire but it has been denied it was true.
The fire, occured in the weekend, was reported to be caused by electrical fault. No fatalities reported but the house was completely destroyed.
Pohiva's daughter 'Iolani Pohiva Koli said Pohiva and his wife Neomai are residing at their son's Siaosi's house in Hala'ovave.
Koli said the house in Sopu was built by Pohiva after he was dismissed from civil service by the government in 1985.
However they moved houses in the last couple of years and a niece of Pohiva moved in and stayed in the house.
The niece and another person staying at the home went to a Morning Prayer service on Sunday, June 1 and the fire broke out while they were away.
The news quickly attracted a number of negative comments and ridicules from the Democratic Leader’s critics on Facebook saying his supporters will build a palace for him.
Pohiva’s supporters blasted the comments saying they were malicious and that everyone should show sympathy in times of disaster no matter who the victims are.
