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Trial date set for Tevita Kolokihakaufisi in the 15kg meth possession case, while his sister has been freed

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Supreme Court judge set a trial date for Tevita Nonu Kolokihakaufisi in the 15kg meth haul police had seized from his office at the National Reserved Bank of Tonga and his home.

Tevita Nonu Kolokihakaufisi (L) and sister ‘Ana Seini Kolokihakaufisi

The trial is scheduled for next month, Oct 16, 2024.

Tevita, 39, was arrested along with his sister ‘Ana Seini Kolokihakaufisi, 37, but as Kaniva News reported this week, ‘Ana has been discharged on apparent mental health grounds.

Tēvita was a senior official who worked for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT).

They were arrested by Police with 5.73kg of the illicit drug at their family residence at Kolofo’ou, while a further 9.927kg was seized from Tēvita’s office at the NRBT.

Two defence counsels, who appeared for the siblings, sought bail for ‘Ana based on a letter from a doctor that was issued in 2015, indicating a previous mental health condition.

A Magistrate denied the bail application due to the time lapse since the medical report was issued. The magistrate suggested a more recent medical evaluation for the court to consider.

Commissioner of Police Shane McLennan stated at the time: “In continuing to work towards achieving our goals of Safe Homes, Safe Roads, and Safe Communities, Tonga Police will persist in targeting and working to disrupt and detect those responsible for placing our youths and communities in harm’s way through the supply of illicit drugs, and hold them to account.”

Referendum on four-year political terms may come by next election – Luxon

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Felix Walton of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

New Zealanders may vote on whether to extend political terms to four years at the next election.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and ACT leader David Seymour on 24 November, 2023.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

At the Bloomberg Address in Auckland Friday, Christopher Luxon said the coalition government planned to propose a referendum for 2026.

Luxon said the idea had cross-party support.

“All three parties in government are fans of the four-year term and actually I think the other opposition parties are as well,” he said.

“We haven’t kicked off that piece of work yet… But that will come onto our radar I imagine fairly shortly.”

Luxon was critical of the current three-year term and said it pushed governments into short-term decision-making.

“New Zealand is a bit of an outlier with Australia for three-year terms… I think if a government isn’t performing after four years you’d kick them out whereas with a three-year term you’re often just getting going and then you’re into an election year again.

“I think we need to think about some of the scaffolding for longer term bipartisan decisions… So that irrespective of which government is in power that work is still carrying on.”

He said it was common for successive governments to scrap their predecessors’ plans and start anew.

“What you’ve seen is simple road extensions get on, off, on, off based on who’s in power, and that’s just dumb.”

Luxon said any decisions about extending political terms would be through a referendum, which could come at the next election.

“That’s in our commitments to each other in our coalition agreement… To actually have a proposal on the table that we can take to the New Zealand people at the next election.”

Coalition partners NZ First and ACT have both called for four-year political terms in the past.

In January, National said it has no position on a four-year term, despite committing to introduce legislation on it and such a move having broad support in Parliament.

Under the coalition agreements, ACT leader David Seymour’s Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill is set to pass its first reading within the government’s first 15 months.

“I think a lot of people agree that having three years is too short,” Seymour told RNZ then. “We’d get careful, considered lawmaking more often if we had a four-year term.”

Of about 180 countries in the world that had some sort of Parliament, only nine of them worked on a three-year term, Seymour said.

Referees withdraw from officiating Tongatapu rugby tournament semi-final tomorrow following assault on their colleagues

By
Kalino Latu
-

Referees for this weekend’s Tongatapu rugby union tournament semi-final games have withdrawn their service after two colleagues were assaulted during a match last Saturday.

Afimeimo’unga Hola (circled in red)

Kaniva News reported that a sideline referee had been punched after the game between Kolomotu’a and the Liahona Old Boys (LOB).

A spokesperson for the Tongatapu Sub-Union Committee, which organised the tournament, has just confirmed that the same player from the LOB assaulted not one but two sideline referees.

He said one of the two sideline referees allegedly lost two teeth after the assault while the other received minor injuries.  

Afimeimo’unga Hola, 42, has been identified as the player who allegedly assaulted the referees.

A Committee spokesperson told Kaniva News that Hola has been banned from paying rugby union for life, and his team must pay a fine of $3000.

The Committee was also in the process of prosecuting Hola.

The spokesperson confirmed that the referees officiating the tournament had opted to withdraw their service.

It is understood that this group of referees feel that this action is necessary to strongly condemn any form of violence, aggression, or abuse towards match officials.

However, the spokesperson said that despite the referees’ withdrawal, the games scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 21, will still take place.

As we reported earlier this week, the assault occurred during the game between the LOB and Kolomotu’a teams.

It began shortly after the referee allowed a late try just after full-time while the ball was still in play, ultimately leading to Kolomotu’a’s victory.

Before awarding the try, the referee sought advice from a sideline referee, who agreed it was a try for Kolomotu’a.

Threats against referees

The Committee’s spokesperson expressed disappointment that the mistreatment of referees in rugby is still ongoing.

“The committee encounters significant challenges when attempting to secure referees to officiate our games during the annual district tournament,” he stated.

He said that the committee was underfunded and had to run the tournament in a very challenging situation.

He said that the incident between the Liahona and Kolomotu’a teams did not improve their situation.

“Previous incidents have shown that such abuse causes officials to leave the sport”

He said the Committee had apologised to the Liahona team because they believed the referees had made an incorrect decision. The spokesperson did not provide details of the alleged mistake.

He also said that the “player who punched the referee is prosecuted and banned from playing for life”. 

Fiji 2000 coup leader George Speight granted presidential pardon

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

The man behind the 2000 coup in Fiji, George Speight, and the head of the mutineers, former soldier Shane Stevens, have been granted presidential pardons.

2000 coup leader George Speight announcing at Parliament House in Suva on May 28 that he planned to rule Fiji by decree
2000 coup leader George Speight announcing at Parliament House in Suva on May 28 that he planned to rule Fiji by decree. Image: RNZ File

In a statement yesterday, the Fiji Correction Service said the pair were among seven prisoners who has been granted pardons by the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, after recommendations by the Mercy Commission.

“These pardons were formally granted on 18 September 2024. As a result, the named individuals have been officially discharged from custody today, Thursday, 19 September 2024,” the statement said.

“The Fiji Correction Service and the government remain committed to the principles of justice, rehabilitation, and the rule of law, and the Mercy Commission plays a vital role in ensuring that petitions for clemency are considered carefully, with due regard to the circumstances of each case.”

Speight was serving a life sentence for the charge of treason while Stevens was serving a life sentence for the charge of mutiny.

Also released are Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, James Sanjesh Goundar, Adi Livini Radininausori and John Miller.

Speight sought pardon
In June 2023, Speight had applied for a presidential pardon under a mercy clause, raising the possibility of his release from prison after serving more than 20 years of a lifetime sentence.

Speight’s 2000 coup was the only civilian to raise an armed group to overthrow the government.

In 2002, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka — who started the coup culture in Fiji with two coups in 1987 — had stated a pardon for Speight would be a catastrophe and could pave the way for more coups.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Mate Ma’a Tonga coach lauds Kangaroos and Kiwis Test schedule

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific and is republished with permission

Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league coach Kristian Woolf says the team is excited to be able to meet the Kangaroos in Australia for the first time this year.

The battle over the governance of rugby league in Tonga is ongoing.

Mate Ma’a Tonga (file image) Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Tonga will meet the World Cup champions in the opening match of the tournament at Suncorp Stadium on 18 October before travelling to New Zealand to face last year’s Pacific Cup winners at Go Media Stadium on 2 November.

Woolf told NRL News it is exciting and his players will have to write their own stories.

“If we go back only a few years ago, we were always crying out for more opportunities and more meaningful games and the opportunity to play against the bigger nations as well,” Woolf said.

“We’ve only played Australia twice – in New Zealand in 2018 and 2019, and 2018 was the first time ever.

“There’s a couple of real firsts there, being able to play Australia on Australian soil; we haven’t played a Test in Brisbane in my time involved.

“I just know that it’s a big game and to be able to open the tournament, those things make it really exciting for the players.

“There is no bigger challenge and there’s no more exciting challenge for the players than to play the world champions, it’s a great way to start.”

Woolf has just been re-appointed MMT coach for the 11th season.

He and the MMT will now work with the International Rugby League recognised Tonga Rugby League XIII.

The TRLXIII, led by chairman Lord Fakafanua, the Speaker of Tonga’s Parliament, will now oversee the team and the women’s team as well.

While his coaching tenure has seen some highs along the way, especially around the 2017 to 2020 period, the same can not be said of recent results.

In 2019 the Jason Taumalolo-led side claimed a 16-12 victory at Eden Park.

Back then he had players like Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita leading the charge.

But Woolf said that was history and the new players will have to work hard to create their own piece of history.

“It a massive achievement for that group of players at the time and it was just such a big achievement in so many ways – what they did on the field, the way they went about their work,” Woolf said.

“I have great memories of the reception of the players and staff when we went back to Tonga, it was an amazing experience and an amazing thing to be a part of.

“That was in 2019, it’s a long time ago now. We have transitioned a fair bit as a team and a lot of those guys who were at the forefront of that are no longer playing in the NRL and are no longer playing for Tonga.

“But this group who are going to represent Tonga this time are going to get opportunity to write their own story and make their own memories.

Tonga TEVITA PANGAI celebrates his try, during the rugby league match between the Australian Kangaroos and Tonga Invitational XIII at Eden Park, Auckland. 02 November 2019

(file image) Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019

“I have no doubt Australia will probably reflect on that [loss] and that will add a little bit to the occasion, but it’s going to be two very different teams to what it was in 2019, but the challenge from their point of view is certainly going to be the same.”

Tonga then travel to meet the Kiwis at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on November 2.

Woolf said it is a top schedule that will demand his team is at its best.

“We haven’t had too many opportunities since 2019 to play in front of all the Tonga fans and the Tonga people who are around in Australia and New Zealand,” Woolf said.

“I am sure there will be a really big and boisterous crowd at the game in Brisbane as there are a lot of Tongans around the south-east corner and we can’t wait to get back over to Auckland with the sea of red and all the fans.

“I think there will be a big following in Brisbane and there will be plenty of supporters there for both teams … but looking forward to the red.”

A big challenge for the side this year will be winning their matches so that they can retain their spot in the Pacific Cup, instead of being demoted to the Pacific Bowls, as a new promotion relegation series is being implemented this year.

That will see the third placed team from the Cup face the top team from the Bowls competition in Sydney on November 10.

Cup competition teams are Australia, New Zealand and Tonga while in the Bowls the battle will be between Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Tonga Rugby League coach Kristian Woolf took part in a live interview on the Mate Ma'a Tonga Rugby League New Zealand Facebook page.

Kristian Wolf (file image) Photo: Screenshot

Pride a motivation

Meanwhile, Woolf said the pride shown by Tongan players has been a motivation for him personally to continue as coach, since he accepted the job in 2014.

“I remember my first involvement, one of the things that made me want to continue being involved was the excitement of what you are seeing, the pride the players had in playing for Tonga and pulling on the Tonga jersey,” he said.

“I guess what made it exciting was the potential you were seeing there as well that just wasn’t being harnessed. It’s great to see what it has become and it’s great to see.

“The fact that all the best Tongan players now want to be part of Tonga above other nations, that is something to be really proud of.”

New coach for women’s team

The Tongan women’s rugby league team are also been given a boost with NRLW premiership winning coach John Strange named to coach the side.

Strange, who coaches Sydney Roosters, guided the club to their inaugural NRLW premiership in the deferred 2021 season and the 2022 minor premiership later that year.

The NRL said Strange, a member of the Māori All Stars coaching staff for the past two seasons, has a passion for international rugby league.

He will now be aiming to steer the Tonga women to RLWC2026 being staged in Australia and Papua Guinea.

The Tongan women’s team will kick off their campaign for a spot at the world cup when they tackle Samoa in Fiji on October 19.

They will also be fighting to win the right to challenge for promotion into the Pacific Cup competition through the new promotion and relegation system.

Women’s teams who will be battling in the Bowls competition this year are Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands.

The Cup competition will feature Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

UN outliers: 7 Pacific states vote against resolution to end Israel’s ‘unlawful presence’ in Palestine

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

Seven Pacific Islands Forum members of the United Nations General Assembly have opposed a Palestinian-drafted resolution that has demanded “Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territoryend…within 12-months”.

A member of the security forces walks past an Israeli police station in Sderot after it was damaged during battles to dislodge Hamas militants who were stationed inside, on October 8, 2023. Israel's prime minister of October 8 warned of a "long and difficult" war, as fighting with Hamas left hundreds killed on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)

A member of the security forces walks past an Israeli police station in Sderot after it was damaged during battles to dislodge Hamas militants who were stationed inside, on 8 October 8, 2023. Photo: RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP

The UNGA voted overwhemingly for the resolution, with 124 countries voted in favour of the resolution, including Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands.

But Fiji, Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tuvalu and Tonga voted against it.

In total, 14 countries opposed the motion, while 43 abstained, including Australia, Samoa, Kiribati and Vanuatu.

The resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank, UN said.

Many Pacific nations have been the recipients of development aid from Israel in recent years.

“New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.

However, Peters said New Zealand held concerns about aspects of the text of resolution.

“This resolution was not perfect, and New Zealand has explained clearly at the United Nations…our reservations with aspects of the text.

“For example, the resolution’s 12-month timeframe for Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian Territory is frankly unrealistic.

“We are also disappointed that the resolution goes beyond what was envisaged in the advisory opinion in some respects,” he added.

UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding that Israel brings to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory without delay and within the next 12 months. 19 September 2024

UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding that Israel brings to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory without delay and within the next 12 months. 19 September 2024 Photo: X / @UN

Sister freed on drug charges linked to 15kg meth seized at National Reserve Bank of Tonga and her residence

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A woman who was arrested and charged earlier this year after Police seized 15 kilograms of methamphetamine has been reportedly released.

‘Anasēini Kolokihakaufisi. Photo/Supplied

‘Ana Seini Kolokihakaufisi, 37, along with her brother Tevita Nonu Kolokihakaufisi, 39, were arrested at their home after Police seized 5.657kg of meth at their family residence at Kolofo’ou.

A further 9.927kg was confiscated at Tēvita’s office at the National Reserve Bank of Tonga. The street value of the seized illicit drugs was estimated at $15 million Pa’anga (US$6.3 m).

A report by Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper this week alleged that Ana Seini’s lawyer, Mr David Corbett, had recently announced her release.

The reasons for the release were still unclear. However, it was reported at the time of her arrest that the defence counsels for the siblings had sought bail for ‘Ana based on a letter from a doctor that was issued in 2015, indicating her previous mental health condition.

The Magistrate refused the bail and demanded a more recent medical evaluation for the Court to consider.

Drug use crisis

The release comes amid the kingdom’s struggling to tackle its drug use crisis.

A new development in that crisis was the attempt by notorious motorcycle gangs, the Comancheros, to establish a chapter in Tonga.

The Comanchero has headquarters in New Zealand and Australia.

The Tongan police arrested two Comanchero suspects recently following the previous arrest of two of the gang’s alleged senior figures last month.  

The two men arrested over the weekend were believed to be the sergeant-at-arms and the treasurer of the gang’s branch in Tonga. Police said the arrest was a major blow to the group’s operation in the country.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Police said nearly every member of the Comanchero Motorcycle Gang now faces criminal charges amid a three-year investigation.

New details about the investigation were released by police yesterday and also revealed the gang was raising money so its members could undergo “military-styled training” by a trainer brought into the country.

It has been revealed that the New Zealand Comanchero established a “commission” which ordered members to raise funds to buy a gang pad, two businesses, and guns.

“As an example: It is alleged there would be a $5000 commission on every kilogram sold by their members,” the New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.

The Tongan police believe that the arrest they made over the weekend could help thwart the Comanchero’s attempts to expand their reach in the kingdom.

“What the intelligence is telling us now is that the development of the Comancheros is halted, and we’d like to think that will be the end of the Tongan chapter of the Comancheros motorcycle gang,” Tonga’s police commissioner, Shane McLennan, was reported by the ABC news as saying.

“Just like any club or organisation, gangs have a hierarchy and a structure. The treasurer has a financial role but the sergeant-at-arms is a key member of a gang for us to be able to arrest. 

Committee apologises to Liahona team – player who punched the referee ‘prosecuted, banned from playing for life’  

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongatapu Rugby Sub-Union Committee has apologised to the Liahona players for what appeared to be an incorrect referee decision that led to their loss against Kolomotu’a last week at Teufaiva National Stadium.  

Afimeimo’unga Hola (circled in red) allegedly punched the sideline referee.

As we reported earlier this week, an altercation following the loss led to an incident where a Liahona player allegedly punched a side line referee.

Despite the apologies, the Committee said it had banned the alleged Liahona offender from playing for life.

A fine of an undisclosed amount would also be imposed according to the Committee’s rule for such an offense, a Commiittee spokesperson told Kaniva News.

The Committee was also in the process of prosecuting the alleged offender, it said.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the details of the referee’s mistake.

The incident occurred shortly after the referee allowed a late try just after full-time, but the ball was still in play, ultimately leading to Kolomotu’a’s victory.

Before awarding the try, the referee sought advice from the side line referee, who agreed it was a try for Kolomotu’a.

At the end of the game, the side line referee was seen talking to the Liahona players before he was apparently punched.

The alleged offender has been identified as 42-year-old Afimeimounga Hola.

Hola was recently on the news after he received a suspended sentence of 11 months imprisonment for two counts of using a service to abuse and causing harm by posting an electronic communication.

He was the first person convicted under Tonga’s Electronic Abuse Offences Act.

In that case, he broadcasted offences on Facebook and enticed others to commit arson against plaintiffs causing them fear and anxiety.

Lack of referees

The spokesperson expressed disappointment that the mistreatment of referees in rugby is still ongoing.

“The committee encounters significant challenges when attempting to secure referees to officiate our games during the annual district tournament,” he stated.

He said that the committee was underfunded and had to run the tournament in a very challenging situation.

He said that the incident between the Liahona and Kolomotu’a teams did not improve their situation.

“Previous incidents have shown that such abuse causes officials to leave the sport”.

He said the Committee has apologised to the Liahona team.

He also said that the “player who punched the referee is prosecuted and banned from playing for life”.  

The match was part of the yearly district rugby union quarter-final games for men and women.

Campaign to remove Tonga’s openly gay chief justice ongoing

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A petition trying to oust the chief justice from his post because he is gay is still circulating around Tonga. 

Malcolm Bishop

Welshman Malcolm Bishop took on the role this month. 

Tonga’s law criminalises ‘acts of sodomy’.

RNZ’s Tongan correspondent Kalafi Moala told Caleb Fotheringham of Pacific Radio New Zealand a few thousand people are expected to sign the petition.  

He says there will be a march to present the petition to the palace office. 

As Kaniva News reported last week, Senior Tongan lawyer Clive Edwards Snr alleged that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, such as Mr Bishop, may be breaching Tonga’s laws prohibiting sodomy.

Mr Edwards also expressed concerns about Mr Bishop’s ability to remain impartial in court cases involving sodomy over which he would preside.

In 2021, Tonga’s then Chief Justice, Mr Michael Whitten, sentenced an 18-year-old teenager to 42 months imprisonment after sodomising a 14-year-old boy.

CEDAW

The controversy surrounding the appointment of the new Chief Judge arises about a decade after protests had been staged against the Akilisi Pōhiva government’s decision to ratify CEDAW.

ABC Radio reported that the King of Tonga finally decided to withdraw the government’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

“There has been a strong reaction from churches and members of the public against CEDAW, over fears it could lead to abortion and same sex marriage in the conservative kingdom”, it said.

The king also said the government’s move to ratify CEDAW was “unconstitutional”.

RNZ reported at the time that the King, in a statement, said he wanted to acknowledge the concerns of 13,048 of his subjects, who had sent eight petitions to him.

Tonga is one of only seven countries, including the United States, which have not ratified the convention.

LGBTQ+ lifestyle

As we recently reported, a petition was currently being organised to urge the king to revoke his appointment of Mr Bishop as the new Chief Judge after it was revealed that his LGBTQ+ lifestyle might violate Tonga’s law, which prohibits sodomy.

The petition stems from the revelation that Mr Bishop and his late partner, Anthony Vander Woerd, another man, lived together as a gay couple for 51 years.

The Legal Futures website reported earlier this month that Mr Bishop is an LGBTQ barrister, and he is open about his sexual orientation and gender identity.

The online legal news source also reported Barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder as saying that he had previously named Mr Bishop as his LGBTQ hero.

Same-sex marriages have been legal in England and Wales since March 29, 2014.

Churches and legal stakeholders in the kingdom were planning petitions and marches to the king, urging His Majesty to rescind Mr Bishop’s appointment.

Christian life

After attending Ruabon Grammar School near Wrexham in Wales, Mr Bishop pursued theology studies at Oxford University.

More recently, he started translating the New Testament into modern English, much of which was done during Covid, and had recently published The Gospels – a lawyer’s translation from the original Greek. He said his translation of the whole of the New Testament would be published by the end of the year.

He was called to the Bar in 1968 and is now a King’s Counsel.

He served as a Deputy High Court Judge, Recorder of the Crown Court, Chairman of the Isle of Man Legal Services Commission, Bencher of the Inner Temple, and member of the Family Law Bar Association Committee. He was formerly a member of the Bar Council.

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission. Additional information by Kaniva News

Livestreamed video showing tenants and children in a vehicle confronted with an eviction order in Tonga sparks online outrage

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tenants and their children, who were inside a vehicle, were shocked when confronted with an unexpected eviction order in Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu.

Tenants confronted with an eviction order.

The incident gained widespread attention and sparked strong reactions from the online community after a live video of the dispute was shared on Facebook this week.

It comes after what seemed to be a private bailiff service arrived at a Fualu residence opposite the king’s villa at Tufumāhina.

A bailiff spokesperson, Kolio Tapueluelu, who was live streaming the incident, claimed they had the eviction order. While he was on live, a vehicle with the family arrived at the property.

According to exchanges during the live stream, Tapueluelu introduced himself to the driver and a woman in the back passenger seat, who were identified as the tenants.

Tapueluelu told them they were there to serve the eviction order, and the tenants had to leave the property immediately.

A bitter confrontation ensued as the tenants disputed the eviction order.

As the woman adamantly refused to leave and begged Tapueluelu to remain calm, her children, in the meantime, were visibly in fear and distress.

The argument continued, but what drew strong attention on social media was not the confrontation itself but the viral video showing Tapueluelu allegedly making threatening remarks.

“Stop laughing,” Tapueluelu said in Tongan to the driver after he laughingly replied, telling Tapueluelu that the alleged damage to the toilet in the property was acceptable because he had constructed it.

The woman intervened and insisted the court hearing to resolve the issue had yet to be heard, but Tapueluelu showed them documents claiming they had just been issued from the court.  

“This is our house”, the woman insisted reiterating her connection with the landlord who was said to be her sister.

“We won’t leave”, she told Tapueluelu in Tongan.

“We have no place to go”.

Responding, Tapueluelu told them to leave.

“Get out of here right now,”Tapueluelu said in Tongan, telling the couple that he wanted them to leave for the road.

“Do what I tell you to do to make it short”.

Many commenters were also concerned about the bailiffs’ lack of official uniforms and IDs presented during the live streams.

In another video, which seemed part of the live stream video taken at the scene, one of the bailiffs was seen saying a prayer.

The woman was visibly tearful, and everyone appeared to reconcile and begged for each other’s forgiveness.

Tapueluelu later took to another livestream to confront his critics, saying that they had no idea about the task’s difficulty or the bailiff’s role.

It was unclear whether the tenants had finally been evicted or if there was an agreement for them to stay.

Both Tapueluelu and the family could not be reached for comment.

What did Facebook users say about this video?

The video has garnered more than 400 shares, 900 comments and 700 reactions.

Several Facebook users also expressed outrage at the viral video. One wrote, “Do it the proper way.”

“The children are pitiful,” another user commented.

A third user wrote, “The tenants were right. Do they have a right to resist?

“Unprofessional,” another wrote referring to the bailiffs.

Some commenters sided with the bailiffs, saying they were doing their job and the tenants should refrain from damaging the property.

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