The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was MP Tēvita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.
The report, which has been seen by Kaniva news, said the Auditor found that two vehicles, registration MORC01 and MORC2 were taken by Lavemaau when he was moved to the Ministry of Finance and became the Minister.
The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.
The Auditor General then recommended that “these assets should be relocated to the Ministry’s compound immediately” and be kept there at all times.
However the Auditor General did not identify the Minister personally in the Tongan version of the report.
It just referred to him as the former Minister of Revenue.
In the Tongan version the Auditor General also recommended that Ministers must obtain permission through a letter from the government’s Asset Committee before they took ministry assets.
As Kaniva news reported recently, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper alleged that it was former Minister of Revenue and Customs Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa who took the assets.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa denied the allegation and demanded a front-page retraction. The paper apologised in this week’s edition.
The paper retracted the allegation on its front-page and apologised to the Minister, his family and those who were affected by its false news.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa told the House this week the paper’s fake news had caused a great deal of damage to his reputation after it was shared on social media.
He asked the Speaker to allow the Auditor General to declare in the House the name of the former Minister to whom he was referring.
The Speaker agreed and told Hon. Tu’i’onetoa he has told the clerk to process his request.
The main points
- The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was former MP Tevita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.
- The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.
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