Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Taniela Fusimālohi, confirmed on Friday that 23 reports of alleged fraud and corruption have been lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against a former government minister.
The revelation came during a press conference when Fusimālohi was pressed for details on ongoing investigations.
Speaking in Tongan, he stated:
“Ko e fika ko ee ‘oku ke ‘omai ‘oku ‘osi ‘i ai e ngaahi fika ko ia osi ‘ave ia ki ai. Taha e potungaue ‘osi ‘ave enau keisi ‘anautolu mahalo ‘osi a’u ia ki he fika ko ia ko e 23.”
This translates into English as: “The number you are mentioning, there are already such cases submitted (to the commission). One of the ministries has also submitted their own cases, and it may have reached that number, 23.”
Fusimālohi did not disclose the identity of the former minister or the specific allegations but noted that the number of reports received by the Anti-Corruption Commissioner is increasing.
The ACC could not be reached for comment.
This development comes after Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke’s government pledged to review all ministries and government entities as part of a broader anti-corruption initiative.
The move expands upon the seven initial accusations outlined in a no-confidence motion filed by PM Eke against former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, who resigned after realising he lacked the support to survive the vote.
Political Fallout Continues
The alleged reports intensified the political turmoil that preceded Hu’akavameiliku’s resignation.
As Kaniva News reported recently, Tonga’s Supreme Court has cleared the way for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to proceed with its judicial review against the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) and its Board of Directors, marking a historic first for the fledgling agency.
