The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed that four senior staff — including its Director of Investigations — have resigned, clarifying earlier reports that identified only three departures.
As reported by Kaniva News last week, the investigators resigned amid allegations of dissatisfaction with the Commission’s working policies and its leadership.
They reportedly believed the Commission’s approach to investigations conflicted with their professional values and established policing principles.
ACC Commissioner Chris LaHatte previously declined to comment on the specifics of the officers’ resignation, as reported by Kaniva News.
In a later statement to the media confirming the resignations, he did not deny the allegations, instead stating that the reasons for the officers’ departure “must be handled confidentially and respectfully.”
In the statement issued amid growing public speculation, the Police Commissioner, Geoff Turner — in a joint release with the ACC Commissioner — confirmed that the investigators will not be immediately returned to their former police duties, as suitable replacements must first be identified.
While the Commission did not identify the officials who resigned, Kaniva News understands the Director of Investigations is former Police Inspector Kalisi Tohifolau, who was previously named in an ACC statement. The identities of the other three remain unknown.
Meeting Invitation Not Taken Up
Mr LaHatte said he had invited the Director of Investigations to discuss the issues raised, but the meeting did not take place.
Despite the high-level departures, the ACC said its operations remain unaffected, with investigations continuing under existing governance and delegation arrangements.
The Commission said it released the statement to counter speculation and ensure accurate reporting while maintaining its legal and ethical obligations around staff confidentiality.
The Commission said the leak appeared to reveal only the resignations, not the underlying reasons.
The Commission indicated that any discussion of the reasons behind the resignations would, if addressed at all, be handled through the appropriate channels at a later stage.
Read the Commissioner’s full statement here.
ACC Delayed 17 Years
The recruitment of senior police officers to the ACC was part of the government’s effort to accelerate the handling of a large volume of complaints before the Commission, including about 70 complaints lodged ahead of the country’s general election in November.
The complaints reportedly included allegations against the former Hu’akavameiliku government, ranging from misappropriation of public funds to breaches of governance protocols. Hu’akavameiliku denied the allegations at the time.
The Commission was also tasked with investigating former Police Minister Piveni Piukala, who was accused of assisting Mormon leader Pita Foliaki Hopoate to flee Tonga while he was subject to a restraining order. Piukala argued at the time that it was his job to assist Hopoate.
No public updates on the investigations have been released to date.
The Anti-Corruption Act came into force in 2007, but no commissioner was appointed until the establishment of the current Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with its first commissioner sworn in in July 2024.
Although different explanations have been given for the delay in activating this critical institution, critics argue that successive lawmakers may have hesitated to enforce the law due to longstanding allegations that could implicate those in power.
