Six months after paying $140,000 for two trucks it never received, Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) is caught in a bureaucratic crossfire.
The revelation follows an allegation that the vehicle supplier later demanded what was believed to be an additional $100,000 beyond the original $140,000 payment.
Ex-Minister Sevenitini Toumo’ua, who oversaw the purchase, now claims that the vehicles are still with the provider, while frustrated officials demand answers.
In an official letter dated 19 March 2025, leaked to Kaniva News, MOI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Lōpeti Heimuli confirmed the ministry’s TOP$140,000 payment for a Nissan Atlas truck (TOP$50,000) and a Hino Ranger crane truck (TOP$90,000) in December 2024, based on an August 2024 invoice from the Logistics company.
However, the vehicles remain undelivered, prompting the ministry’s formal intervention.
According to the letter, it appeared that New Life Logistics CEO Lesieli Namoa had a “previous arrangement with former Minister” Toumoua to justify the additional payments. Heimuli told Namoa that the arrangement did not comply “with the Government Procurement Regulation of 2015.”
The ministry’s letter specifically refutes allegations that it attempted to illegally transfer vehicle ownership, calling these claims “false accusations.”
When contacted for comment, former Minister Toumo’ua said the vehicles are still with CEO Namoa, and the Ministry should talk to her.
He said in Tongan: “Koe ongo loli ena oku ia Lesieli pe I Tonga ke nau talanoa kiai.”
The Minister for Infrastructure, Dr Taniela Fusimālohi, and the CEO, Heimuli, have been contacted for comment. We requested confirmation regarding their communication with Namoa, as well as to address claims that Toumo’ua’s arrangement with Namoa did not comply with the government’s procurement regulations.
Namoa could not be reached for comment.
Third-Party Complicates Standoff.
According to Heimuli’s letter, third-party Samuela Mafile’o claimed the vehicles after wharf clearance.
Despite this development, the MOI maintains it would only negotiate directly with New Life Logistics, the original supplier.
The ministry earnestly requested Namoa to provide the vehicles.
The letter read, “Therefore, we kindly seek your assistance to deliver the two vehicles to the Ministry as per full payments made in December 2024.”
A reliable source told Kaniva News that there appears to have been no contractual agreement between the MOI and Namoa at the initial purchase.
The source further alleged that Namoa subsequently demanded an additional $100,000 on top of the $140,000 paid by the MOI in December 2024, purportedly for storage fees.
