Complaints have allegedly been lodged against former Chief Judge Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani, according to claims published by the Tongan-language news website Kakalu ‘o Tonga.
However, the nature of the alleged complaints and whether any formal investigation has commenced remain unclear at this stage.
It is understood that the alleged complaint may have been lodged by the Electoral Commission with Tonga’s Anti-Corruption Commission, although this has not yet been officially confirmed by authorities.
Kaniva News has contacted the Electoral Commission of Tonga for comment.
Lord Dalgety, a Scottish-born lawyer and judge who later became deeply embedded within Tonga’s legal and political establishment, has long been regarded as one of the Kingdom’s most influential legal figures.
However, his public career has previously attracted controversy.
In February 2010, he was arrested outside a Commission of Inquiry hearing in Nuku‘alofa and charged with perjury after allegedly giving false testimony under oath concerning his links to a related company, Ocean Pacific Limited.
The case subsequently became the subject of a lengthy legal process involving multiple appeals and judicial proceedings. However, the perjury indictment was ultimately dismissed by Charles Cato, who ruled in favour of striking out the charges against Lord Dalgety.
Lord Dalgety resigned from the Electricity Commission and other state roles in 2017 following investigations into unaccounted-for pension funds and related financial disputes.
The Tongan government subsequently initiated steps to sever his association with public bodies, and he has since retired from his position on the Electoral Commission.
From Scotland to Nobility
He began his legal career in Scotland before relocating to Tonga in the early 1990s, where he served as a Supreme Court judge and at times acted as Chief Justice.
In 2008, he was elevated to the Tongan nobility by the late George Tupou V and became a Law Lord-in-Waiting. Over the years, he also held a number of prominent public appointments, including Electoral Commissioner and membership within His Majesty’s Privy Council.
Earlier this year, Tonga’s Electoral Commission announced Lord Dalgety’s retirement from his role as Chairman of the Commission, with Police Magistrate Penisimani Maʻu appointed as his successor effective from April 29.
Lord Dalgety has frequently been associated with major constitutional and judicial developments in Tonga during periods of political reform and institutional transition. His influence extended across the judiciary, electoral governance, and constitutional advisory structures.
At present, no official statement has been publicly released by Tongan authorities concerning the alleged complaints reported by Kakalu ‘o Tonga. It remains unclear whether the matter relates to judicial conduct, administrative issues, or other concerns.
Lord Dalgety could not be reached for comment.
