The wife of former MP Dr Viliami Latu, Natalia Palu Latu, kicked former Tongan MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu out of her house in Fasi on Thursday.
Police were called to the scene and a request to ban Lavulavu from the residence was formally lodged.
Lavulavu said he was shocked by what had happened and he had not even said a word.
The incident happened after Lavulavu joined his wife, MP Akosita Lavulavu, who was with a parliamentary delegation which had arrived at the Latus’ residence to conduct a prayer service for Fatani Latu, who died the previous week.
Fatani worked in Parliament and was Dr Latu’s older brother.
Lavulavu claimed Natalia swore and pointed her finger at him while telling him off.
Natalia did not respond to questions from Kaniva News about the incident.
Lavulavu claimed the incident occurred as part of a political feud between him and Dr Latu.
Lavulavu and Dr Latu contested the Vava’u 16 seat in the 2014 elections. Lavulavu won but Dr Latu immediately took him to court on a complaint of bribery. Dr Latu won and Lavulavu lost his seat.
A by-election was held seeking a replacement for Lavulavu. Dr Latu ran as candidate, but this time he ran against Lavulavu’s wife Akosita, who won.
Dr Latu told Kaniva News his family did not want to see Lavulavu after he launched a petition against his father Fotu. The petition was related to lands Fotu leased to the government for the Lupepau’u airport.
Fotu was one of the king’s heralds who owned land. The town of Leimatu’a in Vava’u was his estate.
Dr Latu said he was aware that Lavulavu had joined a presentation to Fotu by residents from Leimatu’a after the death of his brother Fatani.
He said while the kāinga presented the traditional gift, Lavulavu apologised to Fotu for what he had done. Dr Latu said Fotu accepted his apology.
He said that after Lavulavu left, Fotu asked how Lavulavu dared enter his property after he had launched a petition and complained to the king about him.
Police Minister Hon Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said he had heard about the incident, but had yet to be informed by the Police about what happened.
Dr Latu said because Lavulavu had upset his parental family, they sent their ‘ulumotu’a (head of the clan) Samiu Latu Faletau, to tell Lavulavu to not turn up to the funeral as the family did not want to see him.
Dr Latu claimed the ‘ulumotu’a told Lavulavu about the family’s wishes on October 9.
The main points
- The wife of former MP Dr Viliami Latu, Natalia Latu, kicked former Tongan MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu out of her house in Fasi on Thursday.
- Police were called to the scene and a request to ban Lavulavu from the residence was formally lodged.
- Lavulavu said he was shocked by what had happened.
- The incident happened after Lavulavu joined his wife, MP Akosita Lavulavu, who was with a Parliamentary delegation.
For more information
Supreme Court finds Lavulavu guilty of bribery and calls his evidence ‘untruthful’
