A Tongan man living in Australia has been charged with murder after an alleged random stabbing attack in Sydney’s west that left one man dead and two others critically injured.
Leaaetoa being arrested by police.
New South Wales Police identified the accused as Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa, 25, who is believed to have been experiencing mental health issues prior to the incident.
The attack unfolded just after 10am on Tuesday along a busy street in Merrylands, a suburb known for its large migrant communities. According to police, Leaaetoa allegedly stabbed three people in what authorities described as a sudden and unprovoked assault.
The victim who died at the scene has been named as Amammuddin Sadar, 38. Emergency responders attempted to revive him, but he succumbed to his injuries before he could be taken to hospital.
Two other victims — Ambika Sharma, 47, and Emre Sen, 21 — were rushed to Westmead Hospital with critical injuries. Police said on Wednesday that both remained in a critical but stable condition.
Police allege Leaaetoa fled on foot after the attack but was arrested shortly afterwards. Detectives later charged him with murder and two counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.
Leaaetoa did not appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday when the case was briefly mentioned. No bail application was made on his behalf, and bail was formally refused.
He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to return to court on March 4.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what may have triggered the attack, but early indications suggest mental health may have played a role. NSW Police say investigations are ongoing, including inquiries into the accused’s background and possible motives.
Kaniva Tonga News will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.
Auckland, NZ – The younger brother of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu has pleaded guilty to drug‑related charges, bringing a halt to a trial that had been scheduled to begin this week at the Manukau District Court.
Manukau District Court. Photo/Kalino Lātū
John Makatoa Lomu, 49, entered the guilty plea alongside co‑accused Silila Vaivai, 37. The pair had originally faced charges of importing and possessing methamphetamine following a police investigation that ran between August and September 2023.
On Monday, Lomu admitted to possessing an unknown quantity of a controlled drug, while Vaivai pleaded guilty to importing an unknown amount of a controlled drug. Both men were remanded on bail and are expected to return to court for sentencing later this year.
Police first charged the pair in May 2024 after the months‑long inquiry uncovered their alleged involvement in drug‑related offending.
John and his famous brother Jonah grew up in Manukau, where they played junior rugby league together. In a 2019 interview with Niu FM, John recalled the close bond he shared with Jonah, including the time the All Blacks winger bought him his first car while he was still a student.
Jonah Lomu, widely regarded as one of the greatest players to wear the black jersey, died in November 2015 at the age of 40 following long‑term kidney complications. Between 1994 and 2002, he played 63 tests for the All Blacks, scoring 37 tries and redefining wing play with his unmatched combination of size, power and pace.
One of his most memorable moments came during the 1995 Rugby World Cup semifinal in South Africa, where he famously steamrolled England fullback Mike Catt — a moment still celebrated as one of rugby’s most iconic tries.
The court will set a sentencing date for John Lomu and Silila Vaivai later in the year, as the case continues to attract public interest due to its connection to one of New Zealand’s most beloved sporting families.
Dame Valerie Adams has expressed her deep gratitude after being inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, marking another milestone in the career of one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated athletes.
The honour was announced during the 2026 Halberg Awards, where Adams was named among this year’s inductees alongside former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
In a message shared on social media, Adams said the recognition was “an incredible honour,” reflecting on the transformative role athletics has played in her life.
“From a young age, athletics changed my life and gave me opportunities to build a platform to inspire and uplift others, especially within our Pacific communities and in my homeland of Tonga,” she wrote.
Dame Valerie Adams was inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame at the Halberg Awards. Photo/Facebook
Adams, a two‑time Olympic gold medallist and four‑time world champion, said representing New Zealand carried immense meaning throughout her career.
“Wearing the black singlet filled me with immense pride, purpose, and responsibility — I gave everything I had each time I stepped into the circle.”
She added that she hopes her journey motivates young athletes to persevere through challenges: “I hope my journey encourages young athletes to dream big, embrace setbacks, and believe that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.”
Her induction comes on a night that highlighted the achievements of Pasifika athletes, reinforcing the growing impact Pacific communities continue to make across New Zealand’s sporting landscape.
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, currently undergoing redevelopment ahead of its move to Cambridge later in 2026, described Adams’ inclusion as part of a new era celebrating the nation’s greatest sporting contributors.
With a career spanning more than two decades — including a nine‑year undefeated streak and dominance across Olympic, World Championship, and Commonwealth levels — Dame Valerie Adams remains one of the most influential figures in New Zealand sport, and a proud beacon of inspiration for Pasifika communities worldwide.
A routine late‑night patrol in Millwater led to significant drug‑related charges after Police stopped a suspicious vehicle shortly before midnight on Monday.
Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Area Response Manager, said officers were conducting proactive patrols in the North Auckland suburb when they noticed a vehicle behaving suspiciously.
“Once stopped, officers approached the vehicle and spotted a bong on the floor,” he said.
Police then conducted a full search of the vehicle, uncovering a substantial haul of illegal drugs and cash. The items seized included:
14.5 grams of methamphetamine
14 grams of cocaine
55 grams of cannabis
44 LSD tabs
A tick book
Approximately $5400 in cash
Senior Sergeant Fowlie praised the officers for their attentiveness during what began as routine patrol duties.
“This was a great find by our staff, who were simply out conducting proactive patrols during their shift,” he said. “We are pleased to have been able to remove these items from circulation and the potential harm they could have caused in the community.”
A 19‑year‑old man is set to appear in the North Shore District Court today, facing multiple charges including:
Possession for supply of cannabis
Possession for supply of methamphetamine
Possession for supply of LSD
Possession of drug utensils
Police say enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
Former Kiwi rugby league star Matt Utai is in hospital in a serious condition after being shot multiple times in a drive‑by attack in Sydney early this morning.
Emergency services were called to Macquarie Street in Greenacre at around 6am following reports of gunfire, local media reported.
Police said the 44‑year‑old was shot outside a home by the occupants of a passing SUV, which immediately fled the scene.
Paramedics treated Utai at the location before rushing him to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
A short time later, police were alerted to a vehicle fire on Samuel Street in Wiley Park, about two kilometres from the shooting.
Officers located an SUV engulfed in flames and believe the vehicle is linked to the attack.
Crime scenes have been established at both locations by detectives from the Bankstown Police Area Command.
Utai, who was born in Auckland and represented both New Zealand and Samoa during his rugby league career, played for the Canterbury‑Bankstown Bulldogs and later the Wests Tigers.
Media reports confirm he is the victim in the shooting, though police have not formally released his name.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Auckland, NZ — A 43‑year‑old man has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition as police continue to investigate last month’s shooting in Onehunga.
Firearm and ammunition recovered by Police during a search warrant executed as part of the Onehunga shooting investigation. Photo/NZ Police
The charge follows ongoing inquiries by the Auckland City Organised Crime Unit into the incident, which occurred on Arthur Street on 16 January 2026.
As part of the investigation, officers executed a search warrant at a Māngere property on Friday, Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce confirmed.
“Our detectives were supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, and we have recovered a shotgun and ammunition,” he said.
“At this stage we are unable to confirm whether this firearm was involved in the original offending.”
A 43‑year‑old man has since been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. He appeared in the Auckland District Court over the weekend.
“We have no tolerance for blatant violence involving firearms in our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunce said.
“While we cannot share further details of the ongoing work, a dedicated investigative team is focused on holding those involved accountable for what happened that day.”
Police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
People can contact Police via the online update form or by calling 105 and quoting the reference 260116/9278. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
After being charged during a period when Ponzi schemes plunged the Tongan community into financial turmoil, Tilila Siola’a Walker has resurfaced online promoting another money-making scheme.
Tilila Siola’a Walker, who faces fraud‑related charges in the United States, has re‑emerged online promoting a new scheme. Photo/Screenshot
The 63-year-old who was charged in 2023 with wire fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud and the sale of unregistered securities, has begun circulating promotional material for the so‑called “BG Wealth Sharing” programme.
Walker’s U.S. case remains before the courts, with no public record indicating a conviction to date.
Regulators Raise Alarm
In a recent joint statement, financial regulators in Tonga and New Zealand formally labelled BG Wealth/DSJ EX as a scam.
The authorities said the operation — currently promoted under the names BG Wealth and DSJ EX — is connected to a wider Ponzi‑style network known as TXEX, which relies on multi‑level marketing‑type recruitment tactics.
The regulators noted that the Financial Markets Authority has now identified 813 websites and 30 associated entities connected to the scheme, many of which were found to be duplicates used to attract new investors.
March Launch Announced
In a Facebook post last week, Walker told her followers that beginning in March 2026, her Facebook group “Global” would provide guidance on how to use the BG Wealth Sharing scheme, saying the platform would teach members how to participate.
In a separate post, Walker claimed the number of people expected to join her in the new scheme would be far greater than those involved in Stockton in the last five years, referring to her former Stockton office, where she previously recruited about 1,000 people who prosecutors say became victims of her Tongi Tupe operation.
Walker posted step‑by‑step instructions on how to join the scheme and urged her followers to sign up, describing it as an opportunity for quick financial returns.
Her posts have raised fresh concerns among community members, given the serious charges she continues to face overseas and the growing number of online scams targeting Pacific communities.
Tongi Tupe Promises
According to information filed in a U.S. federal court, prosecutors allege that between January and October 2021, Tilila Siola’a Walker—also known as Walker Sumchai—ran an investment scheme from an office in Stockton, California, targeting members of the Tongan community in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Authorities say she told potential investors that she had access to a special algorithm capable of generating fast, substantial profits. Investors were reportedly encouraged to put money into what she called the “Tongi Tupe” investment programme, with promises that their principal would be returned along with thousands of dollars in profit within a short period.
Prosecutors also allege that Walker claimed that a US$30,000 contribution would qualify an investor for a house in Lodi valued at about US$480,000 within just a few months. Instead of investing the funds as promised, investigators say she used the money for personal spending, including gambling, and used some of the incoming funds to pay earlier investors in an apparent attempt to keep the scheme afloat.
Court documents state that more than 1,000 people handed over a total of more than US$13 million as part of the alleged operation.
Federal Warnings Issued
Authorities in the United States have also issued multiple warnings about the BG Wealth Sharing scheme, with complaints and investigations reported across several states.
Regulators in California have linked the operation to the Rancho Cordova area, while Washington State’s Department of Financial Institutions has received complaints about scammers impersonating legitimate financial firms.
The FBI has opened related cryptocurrency‑fraud investigations in Arizona and Idaho and has taken federal action to seize funds tied to these schemes.
The scam typically operates through WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber groups, using forged U.S. incorporation documents and fake SEC credentials to pose as investment mentors.
Investigators describe it as a Ponzi‑style “pig‑butchering” operation that initially allows small withdrawals before blocking investor accounts and demanding extra payments.
Regulators continue to urge the public to exercise extreme caution, warning that schemes such as BG Wealth Sharing often rebrand and resurface through familiar figures despite repeated enforcement actions.
Tonga’s representative, Siosi‘ana Patricia Lavulo Taumoepeau, delivered a standout performance at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, securing the Third Runner‑Up title in a highly competitive field of regional contestants.
Miss Siosi’ana Patricia Lavulo Taumoepeau. Photo/Miss Pacific Islands Pageant
Taumoepeau, who also holds the Miss Heilala 2026 crown, added further accolades to her pageant journey by winning Best Sarong and the Miss Tourism award — recognitions that drew strong applause from the audience and support from Tongan fans across the region.
The prestigious title of Miss Pacific Islands 2026 went to 19‑year‑old Miss Fiji, Ailava Samuel, who becomes the fourth Fijian woman to win the regional crown, following Anne Dunn’s victory in 2016.
Her win was celebrated widely among Fijian supporters both at the venue and online.
Miss Papua New Guinea, Iampela Popena, was named First Runner‑Up. She also collected two major awards: Best Traditional Wear and Miss Internet, reflecting both her cultural presentation and strong online support.
Miss Samoa, Iliganoa Feagaimali‘i Soti, secured the Second Runner‑Up position with a confident performance across the judged categories, while Miss Cook Islands, Petra Mataiti, placed Fourth Runner‑Up and walked away with Best Talent and Miss Photogenic.
Meanwhile, Kiribati’s Atiterentaai Rinimarawa took home the Miss Personality award, receiving warm recognition for her charisma and rapport throughout the pageant week.
The results mark another successful year for the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, showcasing the region’s culture, talent, and growing pool of young female leaders.
