Nuku‘alofa – Mormon leader Pita Hopoate, who fled Tonga last year despite being under an active court restraining order prohibiting him from leaving the country, may now be brought back with the assistance of Interpol, according to parties involved in the case.
Hopoate’s escape triggered widespread political turmoil after it was alleged that the former Minister of Police, Piveni Piukala, played a role in enabling his departure.
Piukala was subsequently suspended by former Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke to pave the way for the Anti-Corruption Commissioner to investigate the matter.
Under the restraining order, Hopoate was legally barred from leaving the kingdom while court proceedings were still active.
Interpol Request Filed
‘Epalahame Taukei‘aho, the plaintiff who brought the case against Hopoate, told Kaniva News this morning that he and his lawyer have filed an application with the court seeking approval to request Interpol assistance to bring Hopoate back to Tonga.
He said Hopoate had failed to appear in court during several recent hearings.
The next court hearing is scheduled for this Friday, and Taukei‘aho said that if Hopoate again fails to appear, he expects the court to process the Interpol request.
Piukala’s Investigation
Meanwhile, it is understood that the ACC Commissioner’s investigation into Piukala’s alleged involvement is still ongoing.
As Kaniva News reported previously, Piukala did not deny allegations that he assisted Hopoate’s escape; instead, he defended his actions, telling his online followers in a VPON media livestream that it was his duty as a Member of Parliament to help Hopoate.
The incident further exposed the government’s notoriously fractious political structure, where the absence of a party system leaves Cabinet members and MPs operating as independent representatives rather than a unified bloc — a situation that often weakens the Prime Minister’s authority over individual ministers.
As we reported previously, the push from the nobility bloc for Dr Eke to immediately dismiss Piukala over his alleged interference with the court order never materialised.
The former Minister of Customs also publicly criticised Piukala for allegedly interfering with airport operations at Fua‘amotu International Airport. Customs officers are responsible for enforcing movement‑control orders such as court‑imposed travel bans, and the alleged interference raised new questions about whether normal border processes were overridden.
Dr Eke subsequently suspended Piukala from the Cabinet after pressure from ACC Commissioner.
Return via Interpol Considered
With Hopoate living in the United States, Tonga may now pursue Interpol channels, potentially issuing a notice or coordinating with foreign authorities to facilitate his return to face ongoing legal matters.
If Tonga proceeds with an Interpol request, the organisation could issue a Red Notice, which alerts police in member countries to locate and provisionally detain a wanted individual.
While Interpol does not make arrests itself, such notices enable foreign authorities to hold the person while Tonga pursues formal extradition through its legal channels.
Interpol is the International Criminal Police Organisation, a global policing network that helps law‑enforcement agencies in 196 member countries share information and coordinate the location and detention of fugitives who cross borders.
It does not arrest people itself, but it issues notices—such as Red Notices—that alert national police to individuals wanted for extradition.
