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Princess’s son-in-law arrested for second time with illicit drugs as charges laid against co-accused

By
Kalino Latu
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Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita’s son-in-law Sione Filipe Jr has been arrested for the second time within the past three months after authorities seized illicit drugs.

Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea told Matangi Tonga online the suspect was arrested and detained in police custody overnight.

“This arrest is in relation to illicit drugs,” he said.

A co-accused of Filipe, Siua Sekona has been also charged along with him in charges relating to the seizure of 242 grams of cannabis seeds brought into Tonga, at Fua’amotu International Airport in March, the report said.

Police reportedly said the case was called on July 15 at the Fasi Magistrate’s Court and adjourned to October 7 for investigation to be completed.

“Sekona, who lived in the United States, has been in police custody over the past few weeks. He was arrested while visiting Tonga and released on bail yesterday.”

As Kaniva news reported previously after Filipe’s first arrest, he was facing counts of illicit drug importation as well as firearms and ammunition charges, was scheduled to appear in Fasi Magistrate’s court on Monday, April 29.

It was understood the case has been held over until May 27.

In that case Filipe Jnr, 34, was charged after Quarantine Officers at Fua’amotu International Airport intercepted 242.22 grams of cannabis seeds on March 30.

However, police did not reveal the arrest until April 18 after Kaniva news asked them to confirm reports that Filipe Jnr had been arrested and charged with the importation of illicit drugs.

Police said at the time a search warrant executed at the accused’s residence in Tofoa resulted in the seizure of another 85.33 grams of cannabis liquid, together with illegal firearms and ammunition.

It said the accused had been charged with the unlawful importation of illicit drugs, unlawful possession of illicit drugs, possession of firearms and ammunition without a license and making a false declaration on arrival card.

He was subsequently released on bail.

Filipe Jnr, who is also known as Johnny Filipe, married Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita’s second youngest daughter, Hon. Frederica Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha, who is a niece of king Tupou VI.

The Tongan Beast retires

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Former Tongan and New Zealand rugby league international Manu Vatuvei has announced his retirement from the sport, a month after it was revealed he had a brain cyst.

The 33-year-old winger, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, set a club try-scoring record during his 14 seasons with the Warriors in the NRL but most recently played for Salford in the United Kingdom in 2017, before injuring his achilles tendon.

Vatuvei said on Instagram that he was now ready to accept the time was right to retire.

“I wasn’t ready to or accept that my time is up and can honestly say it’s been the tough and now I’m ready to accept and announce my retirement,” Vatuvei wrote.

He also thanked everyone who supported him through his career.

Vatuvei scored 152 tries in 226 games for the Warriors and was a member of the Kiwis team that won the 2008 World Cup before switching allegiance to Tonga, taking the field for the Mate Ma’a Tonga at the 2017 World Cup.

He totalled 29 appearances for New Zealand, scoring 22 tries and scored once for Tonga in his two tests.

Appeal made to put Justice Minister on no-fly list

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

An appeal has been filed in Tonga’s Supreme Court against a decision allowing the Justice Minster to travel outside the country.

Matangi Tonga reports Vuna Fa’otusia was charged in January with wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police officers in a dispute over a stolen cow.

He was charged and released on bail but was put on the no-fly list.

The Crown’s appeal, which is expected to be heard on Friday, alleges the Minister’s application did not follow proper procedure.

A bail variation must include an application, supported affidavit and draft order.

In this case, the Crown claims the only thing submitted was a letter from the Acting CEO of the Ministry of Justice at the time, on behalf of the Minister to be taken off the no-fly list.

In June, the Magistrate granted the application without the Crown’s presence.

Mr Fa’otusia is restricted from travelling until the matter is settled.

The minister’s case relates to police investigations of a stolen cow from Fua’amotu.

The cow was found to have been sold to a man by a police officer.

When police went to take the cow from the man in Ha’ateiho, he protested against the seizure saying he wanted his money back first.

However police returned the cow to its owner.

The Ha’ateiho man then complained to the Minister who is alleged to have phoned police and used threatening language.

The police officer who sold the stolen cow was suspended by the Police Commissioner and is charged with theft and accepting money as an inducement to refrain from doing his duty as a police officer.

Tonga’s gold medal tally at Pacific Game rises with wins in archery, weightlifting and shotput

By
Philip Cass
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UPDATED Tonga now have four gold medals after Ata Maama Tu’utafaiva won gold in the women’s shot put with a toss of 16.61 metres.

“I was nervous to come to the ring, but I did my best,” Tu’utafaiva said.

“It was my first time to win a gold medal. I’m so happy.”

The kingdom has so far won 10 medals including one silver and five bronze.

The Pacific Games News Service reported that each time Tu’utafaiva threw in competition at Apia Park Stadium, she increased her distance anywhere between 41cm and 1.65m, eventually ending on her gold medal-winning toss of 16.61m.

Meanwhile, Aisake Tuitupou, 24, claimed two Pacific Games gold medals, one for the Clean and Jerk and one for the total in the 109kg men’s A division.

Tuitupou, told Newsline Samoa that hearing the national anthem played as he stood on the winner’s dias was “unexpected” and “special.”

“I definitely didn’t expect this. I expected to walk away with a bronze medal because obviously they (Samoa) lift quite a bit more than me,” New Zealand-based Tuitupou said.

“It’s definitely special to represent my dad’s country and my grandma and my grandpa’s. To see the flag raised was something very special for me.”

Tonga has always made a mark in archery, winning gold.

Samoa’s national archery coach, He Chunchen, said Pacific archers had all the ingredients to compete globally against the world’s best.

He has also coached young archers from Tonga and Vanuatu who were sent to China for specialised training.

Not so lucky

Elsewhere, Tonga has not been so lucky.

Papua New Guinea’ touch rugby team defeated Tonga 21-3; while the women’s team won 20-0 against Tonga.

The majority of the PNG men’s team arrived in Samoa only the night before competition began and were recovering from jet lag, their coach said.

Medal tally

Tonga’s tally on the official Game website places it alongside several other small Pacific nations.

These include Tonga’s overall tally puts it on the same level as Vanuatu and ahead of Wallis and Futuna, Tokelau, Palau, Norfolk Island, Niue, the Northern Marianas, the Marshall Islands,  Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia and American Samoa.

Host Samoa has 76 medals, putting it in the top four.

The French speaking territories of New Caledonia and Tahiti are also in the top four, with 95 and 59 medal respectively. The other member of the leading quartet is Fiji with 67 medals.

The main points

  • Tonga now three gold medals after Ata Maama Tuutafaiva won gold in the women’s shot put with a toss of 16.61 metres.
  • “I was nervous to come to the ring, but I did my best,” Tuutafaivas said.

Tonga’s dialysis centre named after young man who died in US, report says

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s new dialysis centre which preparation for its construction work was currently being processed will be named after a Tongan man who died in the US, a US news media has reported.

Siaosi Brown, 22, lost his life while hiking Bell’s Canyon in June 2017.

KSL television has reported that his name will be appearing “on a facility that’s all about saving lives.”

Siaosi was a best friends of Rod Emam, whose father and uncle were funding the dialysis centre.

As Kaniva previously reported in May, a private company in Salt Lake City was partnering with Tonga’s Ministry Of Health.

The US organization involved philanthropists who wanted to leave some of their money and wealth to charity.

The new dialysis centre was planned to be built at His Majesty’s Tufumāhina estate.

“It’s the Siaosi Brown Dialysis Centre, housed within the Semani Health Center,” said Emam.  “I wanted to name the centre after him. I felt it was the only way to truly honour who he was for me,” Emam told Kslltv.

Emam also reportedly said Siaosi’s name was  fitting for a health centre that’s all about saving lives.

“He always wanted to help,” said Emam.

Siaosi’s parents couldn’t be more proud.

“When they told me they were going to put Siaosi Brown that brought tears to my eyes because this is what Siaosi would have wanted,” said his mom.

“It’s amazing that a sad incident happened, but it also created something every special,” said Siaosi Brown’s father.

Read more:

New dialysis centre set to open in Tonga “at no cost to government” – claim
Body of Siaosi Brown recovered after he went missing in Bell Canyon Creek, Utah,United States

Australian rugby star attacked and robbed outside South African hotel

By
Kaniva Staff
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ByAnthony Woolford, Wales Online

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has been attacked and robbed outside the Australia team hotel in South Africa.

A Wallabies spokesperson confirmed the front-rower – known as the Tongan Thor because of his physical prowess during schoolboy rugby in Auckland  – was the victim of a “snatch and run” less than 50 metres from where the team is staying in central Sandton, just outside of Johannesburg.

Wales’ World Cup opponents are in South Africa preparing for their Rugby Championship opener next Saturday against the Springboks.

The 135kg front rower was coming back from an organised dinner at a nearby restaurant with eight players when the incident occurred at 9.15pm local time on Saturday.

Tupou, 23, suffered minor cuts to an arm.

Police were alerted.

“On our way back someone just came from behind and took my phone. I thought it was one of the boys so I looked back and he was wearing a hoodie and ran with my phone.

“I tried to chase after him and he got in the car and I got some cuts but I’m fine. I lost my phone but I can live with that.”

Police believe the attack was part of a series of attacks on the same night.

Tongan husband of dying wife faces deportation despite Tribunal finding he has a humanitarian case for staying

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan Aminiasi Lomu, 32, who is unlawfully in New Zealand, is facing deportation despite the Immigration and Protection Tribunal finding there are exceptional humanitarian circumstances for him to remain in New Zealand.

He and his wife, Sauiluma Mulitalo, have a three year old child. She is the mother of eight children. Lomu is the primary caregiver for his children

Mulitalo was given a suspended sentence for manslaughter in the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court  in December 2014 after running over her husband Michael Guttenbeil in her four-wheel drive vehicle.

She and her seven children moved to New Zealand in 2015 with the help of the Salvation Army. The 43-year-old mother, is suffering from aggressive colon cancer.

Immigration NZ has refused  to grant Lomu an interim visa.

Lomu lodged an appeal with the Immigration Tribunal was lodged in February 2018 after his first work visa application was declined.

The Tribunal found Lomu’s case had exceptional humanitarian circumstances and that it would be unduly harsh to deport him.

It directed that he be granted a work visa, and a 12-month work visa was granted as a result, but that expired on June 29.

He lodged another work visa under the partnership scheme in May. However, an interim visa was not issued, so he is now unlawfully living in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand manager Michael Carley told the New Zealand Herald that the decision as to whether to issue an interim visa lay entirely with the Immigration Minister or Immigration Officer.

They were not required to give any reasons for their decision.

The main points

  • Tongan Aminiasi Lomu, 32, who is unlawfully in New Zealand, is facing deportation despite the  Immigration and Protection Tribunal finding there are exceptional humanitarian circumstances for him to remain in NZ.
  • He and his wife, Sauiluma Mulitalo, have a three year old child. She is the mother of eight children. Lomu is the primary caregiver for his children

Tonga win in tennis, volleyball and archery at Pacific Games in Apia

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga has won one silver and two bronze medals so far at the Pacific Game in Samoa.

Tonga defeated Vanuatu in the first round of the women’s tenni team competition.

Tonga won the bronze media in the beach volleyball.

It also won the  bronze in the mixed team recurve archery event.

Semisi Funaki and Tio Fonohema defeated American Samoa’s Sigalu Aitui and Tauvela Fagaima in a marathon match, winning 24-22, 19-21, 19-17.

Elsewhere some of Tonga’ youngest competitors have been taking their first steps on the international stage.

In the men’s badminton events, Renaey Naaniumotu reached the quarter finals of the men’s singles and the men’s doubles with his brother Lauti Naaniumotu.

However, it has not all been plain sailing.

Tonga lost 10 nil to Papua New Guinea in the Rugby 9s and finished in fourth place after losing to Samoa 16-12 in the bronze medal match.

The Real Tonga Touch Rugby women’s team will meet the Cook Islands and the men’s team will play Papua New Guinea on  Monday.

The main points

  • Tonga has won one silver and two bronze medals so far at the Pacific Game in Samoa.
  • Tonga defeated Vanuatu in the first round of the women’s team competition.

For more information

Samoan Games

https://www.samoa2019.ws/

Queensland hosts Tongan athletes, taekwondo team ahead of Samoan Pacific Games

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s Pacific Games Taekwondo Team flew out of Brisbane yesterday for the Pacific Game in Samoa.

The team arrived from Tonga three weeks ago to train before the Game.

“We are thrilled to see our Tongan teams selecting to train here in Australia,” Brisbane Tongan Community Event Co-ordinator, Toakase Layt said.

Coach Paula Sitapa said when he first saw the team in Tonga before the start of the Brisbane training programme he doubted their chances.

However, he said they were now ready.

When asked about the biggest challenges the team faced at the Pacific Games, Sitapa said: “We are Tongan! We rule and conquered other nations.”

Sitapa trained Pita Taufatofua who represented Tonga at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“Taekwondo is a sport that tells the individual that he or she can reach their highest potential in life by realising who they are and their purpose,” Sitapa said.

Meanwhile, a total of 40 Tongan athletes have been training in Townsville in North Queensland.

They were hosted by  Va‘ai Taumalolo, father of Mate ma‘a Tonga legend, Jason Taumalolo.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Pacific Games Taekwondo Team flew out of Brisbane yesterday for the Pacific Game in Samoa.
  • The team arrived from Tonga three weeks ago to train before the Game.

Heilala history rewritten in retaliation for former Miss Heilala Funganitao’s speech

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s tourist authorities will wipe former Miss Heilala Kalo Funganitao from the records in retaliation for her speech at this year’s crowning ceremony.

The committee’s decision comes a day after the Heilala Festival Committee and the Tonga Tourist Association issued a statement acknowledging Funganitao’s work in promoting Tonga during the past year.

Funganitao spoke out during the crowning ceremony about how she had been bullied since being crowned and what she said was the lack of support over the issue.

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, the committee said they did not condone any form of bullying.

The Tonga Tourist Association Executive Committee said today Funganitao had not fulfilled the requirements of her position and all records of her reign would be removed.

“It is regrettable that as an ambassador of Tonga Miss Funganitao has not fulfilled her duties and obligations,” the committee said in a statement.

“She failed to properly hand over her reign to the newly chosen Miss Heilala 2019-2020. “

The committee said  Miss Funganitao voluntarily gave up her crown and sash when she placed them on the podium and walked off the stage during the final night of the competition.

She did not crown her successor on the night

“Due to the removal of Miss Funganitao as Miss Heilala 2018 – 2019 the committee has concluded that Miss Lupe Vete who was the first runner up of the Miss Heilala Pageant 2018 – 2019 competition be recognised as the Miss Heilala for 2018 – 2019 and all future records will reflect this.”

End pageants

Funganitao’s speech and the furore following it has become a global story, with the UK Guardian newspaper reporting today:“Tonga is in uproar after its annual beauty pageant was marred by accusations of bullying, backstabbing and racism, prompting calls by women’s rights leaders for the pageant industry to be abandoned altogether.”

Co-ordinator of Tonga’ Ma’a Fafine Moe Famili, Betty Blake, told Radio New Zealand the event should be reviewed.

She said it highlighted wider issue with people in power trying to cope with young women.

“There’s a power struggle and there’s a cry from this young woman to be heard. I think beauty pageants have had their day.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s tourist authorities will wipe former Miss Heilala Kalo Funganitao from the records in retaliation for her speech at this year’ crowning ceremony.
  • The committee’s decision come a day after the Heilala Fetival Committee and the Tonga Tourist Association issued a statement acknowledging Funganitao’s work in promoting Tonga during the past year.

For more information

Heilala committee says it regrets bullying, racism on final night,  but still says speech should not have been made

Heilala committee says it regrets bullying, racism on final night, but still says speech should not have been made

‘Beauty pageants have had their day’ – Tonga women’s agency

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/393946/beauty-pageants-have-had-their-day-tonga-women-s-agency

‘It’s had its day’: ugly scenes as drama descends on Tonga’s beauty pageant

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/its-had-its-day-ugly-scenes-as-drama-descends-on-tongas-beauty-pageant
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