A town officer from Hōleva island in Vavaʻu has been summoned to court later this month following allegations that he received money during the 2025 general election campaign, in a case that has drawn in Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Lātū.
It comes as the kingdom faces a deepening political crisis, with multiple electoral bribery cases now before the courts, including one that last month resulted in the conviction of Finance Minister Lata Tangimana.
The case also revives a long‑running political rivalry between the parties, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Lātū and former Cabinet Minister ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who have previously confronted each other in court over election‑related matters.
Court documents filed on April 2 under case number CV 51/25 show that Lavulavu has initiated proceedings alleging that town officer Uele Moala received a substantial sum of money from Lātū during the November 2025 campaign period.
The writ, written in Tongan, orders Moala to appear in court on 20 April and give evidence regarding an allegation that Lātū gifted him money outside his home on 18 November 2025, which he allegedly accepted.
According to the document, the money was purportedly intended to be given to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga minister in Hōleva.
Court Rivals Once More
Moala has publicly denied the allegation. In a Facebook post published on Tuesday evening, he shared a copy of the court document and rejected claims of any wrongdoing, saying he would contest the matter through the legal process.
“I have not yet seen how lies are being fabricated to appear as truth, but I am glad we have reached court so the truth can be revealed,” Moala wrote.
“Not only for me, but now even church leaders have been accused, which has damaged their reputations, but we will see what happens in court on April 20.”
The case is expected to consider whether the alleged payment, if proven, breached electoral laws governing campaign conduct and the use of money during elections.
No findings have been made, and all allegations remain before the court.
This is not the first time Lātū and ʻEtuate Lavulavu have faced each other in court.
As previously reported by Kaniva News, Lavulavu was convicted in 2016 of electoral bribery and of exceeding the legal spending limit during his 2014 election campaign.
Following Lavulavu’s conviction, a by‑election was called to fill his vacant parliamentary seat. In that contest, Lavulavu’s wife, ʻAkosita Lavulavu, stood as a candidate against Lātū and won.
