The Tonga Development Bank (TDB) has been granted Court permission to challenge the Governor of the National Reserve Bank’s decision to dismiss its CEO and Chairman, the bank has claimed.
Tonga Development Bank.Photo/Kalino Lātū
As Kaniva News reported previously, the Tonga National Reserve Bank (TNRB) has permanently banned Development Bank CEO ‘Emeline Tuita from holding any position with the TDB.
The Reserve Bank also wanted to remove the Development Bank’s chairman, Peni Vea.
The Development Bank said this evening it believed the decision on May 17 to sack Tuita and Vea was unlawful.
“We are pleased to advise that the Court has granted leave for the Court to review the directives”, the TDB said in a statement.
“Additionally, the Court has issued an injunction prohibiting the Governor and the National Reserve Bank of Tonga from disseminating any further information to the media or any other third parties regarding these directives”.
It was just the latest in a string of controversies and disputes.
As Kaniva News reported previously the Reserve Bank accused the Development Bank of endangering the economy.
It said the Development Bank had behaved imprudently.
“One of the primary functions of the NRBT is to regulate and supervise banks and to ensure that they promote and conduct sound and safe banking practices,” the Reserve Bank said.
“The NRBT is also responsible for keeping the prices of goods and services stable and inflation low, managing of the foreign reserves and exchange rates and combating money laundering.”
The Reserve Bank said earlier the TDB was conducting unsafe and unsound banking practices which could threaten the financial system.
Police raided the Development Bank on May 24.
Police said they were responding to a complaint about an alleged breach of the Banking Act.
In turn, the Development Bank said it was taking legal action against the police.
A seasonal worker who dragged an 11-year-old girl into the toilets of the Blenheim train station to rape her has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Steven Tari Tambean Garae, 24, earlier pleaded guilty to rape and unlawful sexual connection after the attack on the schoolgirl last April. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Garae, who is from Vanuatu, was on a Recognised Seasonal Employer limited visa at the time.
In the Blenheim District Court, Judge Tony Zohrab said it was a random attack, a brutal violation of an 11-year-old girl on a toilet floor.
“You sacrificed her present and future wellbeing to satisfy your selfish sexual desires and your selfish behaviour has led to a catastrophic impact on the victim and her family.”
The court heard how the victim had been riding a bike with her friend who was on a scooter, one Sunday morning in April 2023, when Garae began following them.
Steven Garae, 24, was sentenced to seven years in prison, when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court for the rape and sexual violation of a school girl. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
Garae started a conversation with the victim and when they were close to the train station in Sinclair Street, he dragged her by the wrist into a public toilet, locked the door, then sexually violated and raped her.
The girl’s friend ran across State Highway 1 to get help from people in a bakery close by.
The attack lasted seven minutes after which Garae ran off. He was later found by police and arrested. He initially claimed the sex was consensual, before admitting he had raped the girl.
Judge Zohrab said in a victim impact statement, the girl said she was now treated differently, that people were more protective of her while some friends had distanced themselves and others teased her and called her names.
“She said she feels sad almost all the time and feels like it is getting worse, not better.
“She says she used to like herself but she doesn’t like herself much anymore and she feels what happened sometimes was her fault.”
Innocence taken away – grandmother
Her grandmother told the court that Garae had given the victim a lifetime sentence.
“He has taken the innocence away from our granddaughter and now we find it hard to trust people and to trust that this will not occur again.
“She cannot understand why she cannot go out on her own like other children her age.”
For some time after the assault she had lost her appetite and could not eat, she was taking medication to sleep at night and was seeing a child psychiatrist but there were ongoing concerns for her mental health.
The girl had to fly to Auckland for a sexual assault forensic exam, including pregnancy and STI tests, where it was revealed she suffered internal injuries as a result of the rape.
Her grandmother said she felt “sick to the stomach that a person could think they could do such sexual acts on an 11-year-old child” and think it would be consensual.
Outside court, family members expressed their disappointment with the prison sentence, which came with a minimum period of imprisonment of three and a half years, which they said was not long enough.
Aggravating features
Crown prosecutor Jackson Webber said it was an “appalling rape of a vulnerable girl” and the kind of offending that was “terrifying for the community”.
He said there were a number of aggravating features; the element of abduction, a degree of premeditation, the fact the victim was young and vulnerable and that she had suffered several indignities which had a profound effect on her wellbeing.
“It was so stark, so violent, it was just horrendous offending that sets the community on edge.”
Defence counsel Emma Riddell said Garae had not coped well with being sent to New Zealand and his segregation while incarcerated had increased his mental impairment.
She said Garae would be deported once he had served his sentence and would not be released back into the community or be allowed to enter the country again.
“But what the Parole Board is going to need to see is that he is undergoing some treatment before they can be satisfied that he should be deported to Vanuatu to ensure the Vanuatu community is safe.”
Judge Zohrab said Garae’s selfish behaviour had a catastrophic impact on the victim, her family and the wider community.
“This sort of offending strikes right at the heart of one’s sense of community wellbeing.
“Locals in Blenheim are wondering what is going on in their community if two 11-year-old girls can’t go out on a bike and a scooter at 9.30am in the morning without being violated in this way.”
From a starting point of 10 years, Garae was given a 25 percent discount for an early guilty plea and a 5 percent discount for his youth and previous good character.
Joseph Parker does not care who, he just wants to know when.
The Samoan/Kiwi heavyweight (35-3), is riding an impressive five-fight winning streak and is eager to get back in the ring and extend it.
“I will fight anyone, and I’ll call out anyone.”
However, Parker is yet to lock down his next bout.
“I was told I could be fighting in September, but the last event happened in Saudi Arabia changed the whole landscape of what’s next so now hopefully in October. I’m training hard for that and once we get an opponent, we can design plan to taper to whoever we’re fighting.”
Despite largely dominating the first bout, Parker said a rematch with Zhilei Zhang is still on the cards.
“The rematch is there, it just depends on what Saudi Arabia wants but the rematch is what I’m contracted to fight next.”
He will also be keeping a close eye on Fury vs Usyk 2 in October.
“I would like the opportunity to fight any of those top guys, as I keep winning, sooner or later, they’re going to give me that chance.”
Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker exchange punches during the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title fight between Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker on the Knockout Chaos boxing card at the Kingdom Arena on March 08, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Getty Images / Richard Pelham
The 32-year-old believes Saudi Arabia has helped resurrect the sport.
“My last three fights have been in Saudi Arabia. I feel like Saudi Arabia are investing money into sports in general. You got golf, tennis, you got football, soccer, boxing and UFC. And so at the moment, a lot of the fights are in Saudi Arabia. They’re starting to expand around the world now. So I’m sure they’re looking at expanding and going all around the world.”
He said boxing was falling behind its combat sports competition such as mixed martial arts.
“If it wasn’t for Saudi Arabia, boxing would have went down more, but they’ve been able to jump in at a time where we needed them and they’re putting on these big fights people never thought would happen. Now boxing’s getting the attention back and now we’re not really in a competition, boxing is just doing its own thing.”
As well as a perpetual title contender, Parker has been making headlines of late due to his creative callouts of fighters on social media.
“Dillian and I have a sort of up and down relationship, where he’s sometimes nice, sometimes he’s a prick. I felt it was a great way to promote that fight, if it could eventuate but it never really happened. And the Joshua fight, we did another video and nothing happened.
“So I think we’ll a put a hold on those videos, focus on the training and lock something in soon. But if anyone has an idea for a video, we’re more than happy to do one. It’s a bit of fun and a nice thing to do outside of training.”
Parker also weighed in on the rise of influencer boxing, condemning the cancelled fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
“It can hurt the sport if they’re putting on Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. Mike Tyson, way passed his prime. He’s a legend in the sport. But there comes a time where you just got to give it up and do something else in your life, fights like that would damage your sport, but there’s always going to be eyes on the sport when you have these influencers, they bring different crowds and different audience, or hopefully they could just make the fights more 50:50.”
But would Parker ever entertain a fight with the YouTube sensation?
“Jake Paul is too small. He’s improving, but there’s a difference between someone who’s just starting boxing, and someone’s been boxing for a long time, but he is getting better.”
Lulutai CEO Poasi Tei says the airline will make an announcement tomorrow (Friday, June 20) morning about the long-rumoured return of New Zealand-based Air Chatham to Tonga.
Poasi Tei
Kaniva News has reliable information that Air Chatham is expected to arrive in Tonga some time this week or next week and start operating the domestic services.
We asked Tei for an update on the reported deal between Lulutai and Air Chatham, which we have previously reported.
We asked him how long Chatham was expected to operate temporarily in Tonga
We also asked him how many aircraft Chatham would bring to Tonga.
Responding to our questions this afternoon, Tei said: “We plan to issue a press release tomorrow following the completion of plans for considerations for this project”.
We have information that Air Chatham and Lulutai has been negotiating for the New Zealand airline, which previously operated Tonga’s domestic air service, to take over Tonga’s domestic flights on a four-month wet lease.
A wet lease means a leasing arrangement whereby Chathams can provide a Saab 340 aircraft – the same type operated by Lulutai until it was damaged in December – with air crew and maintenance.
Chathams could not be reached for comment. There was no announcement on its web site last night.
Meanwhile, Lulutai is expected to buy another Saab 340. This was recently mentioned in Parliament, with the Opposition saying money for the purchase had been allocated in the 2024-2025 budget. There was no further information available to us on the new aircraft. It has been claimed that they can be bought for as little as US$1 million.
The Saab is bigger than Lulutai’s recently purchased DeHavilland Canada Twin Otter, which the government bought for US$6 million.
Asked about the difference between the prices and why the Twin Otter was more expensive, our source said it depended on the negotiations between the buyer, in this case the Tonga government and the seller. He said the government should have got a better deal and bought a cheaper Twin Otter for about US$3 million.
The mother of the missing Marokopa children has published a letter which she says was written to her by the children’s fugitive father, Tom Phillips.
A photo posted on social media by Cat of her and her three missing children during a visit to the park in November 2021 before they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips. Photo: Supplied
Police have been searching for Ember, eight, Maverick, nine, and Jayda, 10, since December 2021, when they were taken by Phillips to an unknown location – though police believe it was in Western Waikato within Marokopa or the surrounding areas.
Tom Phillips does not have legal custody of the children and there is a warrant out for his arrest.
A picture posted by Cat on social media which she says is “the last birthday we got to celebrate with Jayda as a family”. Photo: Supplied
Posting on Facebook, their mother, known as Cat, said she was “well aware of the hateful rumours being spread around” and asked that people knew her before judging her.
She said she was sharing the letter to show that all was not as it seemed and to assure people that the children would be coming home to a loving and stable family.
Cat said she along with their two sisters, grandparents, aunties and cousins would be waiting for them.
The handwritten letter – which is not dated or signed and which RNZ has not been able to verify – describes the writer’s love for Cat, apologises to her and says he has a good heart and means well.
“I know if I ever give up trying to make things right I will regret it forever,” the letter says.
“Im sorry for everything I have ever said or done to hurt you,” it says.
The letter goes on to say that “although I make multiple f*** ups I have a good heart and I mean well”.
“We have an awesome family and thats worth fighting for,” is the last line of the letter.
Cat said she had not spoken out earlier because she did not believe it would bring her children home, but the fact that police were now offering a substantial reward had given her the courage to break her silence.
On Tuesday Cat broke her silence to make a video appeal provided by police for people’s help in returning the children to her.
A years-long dispute between two rival bodybuilding federations in Tonga has heated up again.
Talaiasi Nau
Lawyers acting for The Tonga BodyBuilding Federation (TBBF) have sent a demand to Talaiasi Nau, head of a rival body, demanding that it return gym equipment that was shipped to Tonga from Australia and which it said was the legal property of the TBBF.
The Federation also demanded that Nau stop using the TBBF name on social media and that it hands back any money obtaining through using the TBBF name.
It threatened legal action if its demands were not met.
The two groups both call themselves the Tonga Body Building Federation and fight over control of the national sports body.
The group led by Nau is recognised by the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC).
The other group, which has threatened legal action, is led by Tofavaha Tuifua and is recognised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Sports. In the past Tuifua’s group has received significant government funding.
The TBBF was established in 2009, with Tuifua as first president. After he left to live in Australia, a new board was elected and continued to run as the TBBF. Secretary of the TASANOC-recognised TBBF board Mary Nau told Matangi Tonga in 2019 that Tofavaha had returned to Tonga after 10 years away and wanted to use the name of the TBBF.
Nau also had a long running dispute with former business partner and President of the Tonga Body Building Association, Masanao Onodera, over the ownership of gym equipment.
The Supreme Court ruled this belonged to Nau. However, in 2022, Onedera demanded pay $15,400 to settle the long running legal dispute.
In 2016 the South Pacific BodyBuilding Federation voted to take disciplinary action against Nau for bringing the SPBBF into disrepute.
Five suspects were arrested Wednesday following a brazen, daytime smash-and-grab robbery at a Sunnyvale jewelry store involving nearly two dozen suspects and a police chase, authorities said.
(Clockwise from upper left) Afuhia Lavakeiaho, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa, Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe SUNNYVALE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) said the robbery happened Wednesday afternoon just before 1:30 p.m. at PNG Jewelers at the Hacienda Shopping Center on the 700 block of E. El Camino Real.
Surveillance video from the store showed the scene as about 20 suspects swarmed the store, using hammers and other tools to break jewelry display cases and steal the merchandise. Suspect then fled in multiple vehicles before officers arrived, DPS said.
Officers located two suspect vehicles and tried to pull them over, but both vehicles fled, triggering two separate chases on northbound U.S. Highway 101, according to authorities. One pursuit ended after officers lost track of the vehicle, while the during the chase of the second vehicle, the suspects were seen throwing some of the stolen jewelry out of the window, DPS said.
The pursuit of the second vehicle ended when officers lost sight of it, but the vehicle was found a short time later abandoned on Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City. Five suspects from the vehicle ran across the freeway and into a nearby industrial area, where four of them were arrested near Industrial Road and Brittan Avenue in San Carlos, DPS said.
(Clockwise from upper left) Afuhia Lavakeiaho, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa, Tonga Latu, Tavake EsafeSUNNYVALE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The fifth suspect was found nearby and arrested after being stopped by a police K-9 as he attempted to escape, DPS said.
The suspects were identified as Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa, and Afuhia Lavakeiaho. Their ages and hometowns were not provided. The five were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges of armed robbery, felony vehicle evasion, resisting arrest, burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and outstanding warrants.
Some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered; the total value of the jewelry stolen was not immediately known. No one was hurt during the robbery and police chase.
Other law enforcement agencies involved were the California Highway Patrol, Palo Alto Police Department, Belmont Police Department, South San Francisco Police Department, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Sunnyvale DPS investigators were trying to determine if the robbery is related to another robbery of a jewelry store in Sunnyvale that occurred in May which involved multiple suspects.
Revelation Prophecies and Their Fulfillment Revealed… Over 7,000 Participants Including 1,000 Pastors
Chairman Lee Man-hee: “Perceive Revelation and Teach It to Your Church Members”
European Pastors in Attendance: “We Want to Learn Revelation”… Expectation for Church Revival Through Continuous Exchange
“The teachings that explain the Book of Revelation were truly profound and amazing. I want to learn more about the Bible, and if invited to Korea, I will start preparing my ticket (airfare) right away.”
This was the impression shared by Pastor Delly Delphin Matondo of the Full Gospel denomination, who participated in the Bible Seminar held by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Chairman Lee Man-hee; hereinafter referred to as Shincheonji Church) in Paris, France on June 15 (local time).
Many other pastors who attended the European Bible Seminar also expressed a strong desire to hear more about Shincheonji Church’s teachings on the Book of Revelation.
The seminar took place at a critical time when measures were urgently needed as Europe’s Christian influence declined, with churches being sold off and repurposed as restaurants, bars, and clubs. This Bible Seminar was part of the “2024 Continental Bible Seminar” series that began in the Philippines on April 20, and was organized in response to numerous requests from pastors eager for a revival in Europe.
With over 7,000 participants, including 1,000 European pastors, the event garnered significant attention. Prior to the seminar, a discussion on “The Role of Pastors for the Spiritual Enlightenment of Christians Today” was held.
Following this, attendees watched a video lecture by Chairman Lee Man-hee from the “Shincheonji Bible Seminar: Testimony on the Fulfillment of Revelation” held in Korea on June 8.
In his lecture, Chairman Lee stated, “God’s work is fulfilled according to the unalterable Book of Revelation. Everyone listening to this lecture must know who is being referred to in Revelation,” emphasizing, “I hope all pastors will perceive these words and teach them to their congregants. You must teach your church members without adding or subtracting from Revelation.”
After Chairman Lee’s lecture, Simon Tribe Leader Lee Seung-joo provided an explanation of the meaning of biblical prophecies and their fulfillment, addressing European pastors with an appeal.
Tribe Leader Lee stated, “The fulfilled words of Revelation have life in them, and as more people are re-created in God’s image and likeness through these words, (European churches) will also experience revival. I encourage you to learn and testify from Revelation chapters 1 to 22 through Shincheonji Church’s Zion Christian Mission Center, which has produced over 100,000 graduates annually in recent years.”
During subsequent exchanges among pastors, a pastor from Austria commented, “I was impressed that Shincheonji Church focuses on the prophetic words written in the Bible. I want to work with enthusiastic and bright people for God’s kingdom and work. I would like to know how to collaborate and learn more about Revelation.”
A pastor from Poland also remarked, “Seeing European pastors and believers united brought tears to my eyes. I want to share these words with more people. Please tell me how I can spread this message to many others.”
According to data from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the United States, Europe’s Christian population increased to 560 million in the 2000s but has stagnated this year (2024) and is expected to decrease to 490 million by 2050.
As European society modernized and industrialized, it began to secularize. The rise of liberal theology led to a decline in Bible-based teachings within churches. Additionally, the rapid rise of atheism and religious pluralism, coupled with various clergy scandals, has caused Christianity to lose trust and struggle to find its direction. It is hoped that this Bible Seminar will serve as a catalyst for the revival of European churches.
A representative from Shincheonji Church stated, “After this Bible Seminar, many European pastors have inquired about how they can learn Revelation from Shincheonji Church. We are preparing places and programs where they can learn, and we will further activate Zion Christian Mission Centers across Europe to expand platforms for their education.”
The representative also mentioned, “Pastors worldwide have requested additional Bible Seminars to learn more about Revelation. We are planning and preparing a Bible Seminar at the end of this year to invite pastors from around the world to Korea. Through this event, we aim to create a platform where we can become one within God and His word.”
Meanwhile, according to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, as of June 5th this year, MOUs have been signed with a total of 12,538 churches in 83 countries overseas. Additionally, 1,341 churches in 41 countries have joined Shincheonji Church of Jesus and changed their signage. Furthermore, as of the end of May, the number of domestic and international pastors currently taking Bible education courses at Zion Christian Mission Center has reached 5,614.
A video lecture by Chairman Lee Man-hee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus titled “Testimony on the Fulfillment of Revelation” is being shown at the Continental Word Seminar held in Paris, France on the 15th (local time). Photo/Shincheonji Church of Jesus]Overview of the Continental Word Seminar held in Paris, France on the 15th (local time). Photo/Shincheonji Church of Jesus]Photo 3: Lee Seung-ju, the leader of the Simon Tribe of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, is giving a lecture at the Continental Word Seminar held in Paris, France on the 15th (local time). Photo/Shincheonji Church of Jesus]Scene from the Continental Word Seminar held in Paris, France on the 15th (local time). Photo/Shincheonji Church of Jesus]
A Tongan psychiatric nurse has succumbed to injuries sustained during an alleged attack by a mental health patient at a Hu’atolitoli prison ward.
Samiuela Mafi died today Sunday 16 after he was admitted to Vaiola hospital on Saturday 9, a relative has confirmed.
Militoni Tu’akalau said it’s sad after he found out that the deceased was a half brother of his children in Tonga.
He said his daughter had tearfully informed him about Mafi’s death over the phone.
News of Mafi’s death has triggered an outpouring of tributes on social media from his kāinga and friends.
“I love him to bits, I always will,” a commenter wrote on Facebook.
“He’ll never die in my heart.”
The incident comes in the wake of grave concerns about the country’s biggest prison’s severe overcrowding problem.
Reports said that inmates with psychiatric issues were transferred from the main clinic at Vaiola Hospital to the prison and dramatic increase in the prison population made it hard to control them.
