Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – A fight between Police Minister Piveni Piukala and the Parliament Whole House Committee Chairman Lord Tu’ilakepa during debates over Tonga’s anti-money laundering bill has reignited scrutiny of unresolved drug trafficking allegations—dropped in 2013 but never adjudicated—against Tu’ilakepa.
Submitted to the House by the Minister of Justice, Mo’ale Finau, the amendments seek to strengthen Tonga’s Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act 2001 by granting authorities broader powers to track and confiscate illicit funds—a reform long advocated by international watchdogs.
Tensions flared as supporters of the bill, including Minister Piukala, questioned why Tu‘ilakepa appeared to stall proceedings on reforms aimed at strengthening Tonga’s financial crime laws.
Tu’ilakepa stated in the House that he wholeheartedly supported the amendment, but he believed it was rushed through too quickly.
He expressed concerns about families’ property rights and possessions, arguing that the amendments should be discussed publicly to ensure full understanding.
“‘Oku ou poupou ‘aupito au ki he lao’ ni,” Tu’ilakepa said in Tongan, referring to his full support for the amendments.
However, his suggestion to return for a further public consultation prompted an emotional reaction from the Minister of Police, who believed Tu’ilakepa was simply trying to delay legislation the government urgently needed. This disagreement led to a heated argument between them.
As Kaniva News reported last week, a leaked video of the parliamentary fight, shared on social media, showed staff and security intervening to separate Piukala and Tu’ilakepa.
Tu‘ilakepa’s Controversial Legal History
Proponents of the legislation have cited Australian authorities’ 2012 reports about Tu’ilakepa’s alleged cartel links while questioning whether his heated argument with Piukala on the amendment reflects a conflict of interest.
In 2010, Australian police accused Tu‘ilakepa of conspiring with convicted drug lord Obeil Antonio Zuluaga Gomez to funnel cocaine through Tonga to Australia and China.
Evidence included intercepted phone calls—later deemed inadmissible in Tongan courts—where Tu‘ilakepa allegedly promised to house and finance Gomez after securing his visa.
Tongan prosecutors dropped his drug-related charges in 2013, citing “case complexity” and illegal evidence collection.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
The incident has polarised Parliament, with bill proponents criticising Tu‘ilakepa’s deliberate prolonging of debates—a tactic widely seen as a protest against the government—as incongruous given his unresolved past allegations.
His supporters counter that his procedural delays reflect legitimate dissent over the bill’s provisions, unrelated to his 2012 dropped charges.
Some critics accused the Minister of Police of jumping on the bandwagon by supporting an amendment submitted by the Minister of Justice, while simultaneously trying to claim credit for it among his followers.
Piukala’s supporters have circulated 2012 Australian and NZ media reports about Tu’ilakepa’s alleged cartel links on social media, using them to discredit his faction.
The parliament finally approved the bill last week following a five-day suspension of both Piukala and Tu’ilakepa by the Speaker, effective Monday, April 4.
