The trial of former Member of Parliament Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione was abandoned last month after a key witness failed to appear in court.
Johnny Gratan Vaea Taione
The former MP for Tongatapu 8 went on trial on 21 April, facing two charges of forgery and obtaining by false pretence.
Taione was charged with forgery after allegedly writing an authorisation letter in March 2024 at Longolongo.
The Crown claims the letter was intended to deceive the Ministry of Infrastructure by falsely stating that the owner of a blue 2022 Ford Ranger had authorised its transfer to another person.
Taione is also alleged to have obtained $68,000 by false pretence for another person, after reportedly stating in a letter that the owner had authorised the registration of his Ford Ranger. He pleaded not guilty to both charges in January 2025.
The hearing was adjourned to 22 April to allow police to execute a bench warrant following the failure of a key witness to appear.
However, the prosecution later informed the court on 23 April that the witness could not be located and entered a nolle prosequi, the Lord Chief Justice said.
“Accordingly, I find the defendant not guilty of the charges. The matter is now closed with no order as to costs.”
Nukuʻalofa — The Court of Appeal has overturned the drug importation convictions of Anita Toutaiolepo, ruling that the evidence presented at trial failed to exclude a reasonable possibility that she did not know methamphetamine was concealed in a shipment addressed to her.
‘Anita Toutaiolepo. Photo/Supplied
Toutaiolepo, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment for importing more than 137 grams of methamphetamine discovered in a shipment from the United States.
She was later handed a separate sentence on related charges involving six smoking pipes found in the same consignment.
In a strongly worded judgment delivered this week, the appellate bench of Justices Randerson, White and Dalton made it clear that the prosecution had not met the high legal threshold required in criminal cases, particularly on the central question of whether Toutaiolepo had knowledge of the drugs.
The Court said that while the circumstances may have raised suspicion, they did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Instead, the judges found it remained reasonably possible that Toutaiolepo’s consistent denial of knowledge was true.
The appeal turned squarely on the issue of what the Court described as “guilty knowledge.” The judges reaffirmed that where a case depends on circumstantial evidence, it must be strong enough to eliminate any reasonable innocent explanation.
If such a possibility remains, the law requires an acquittal.
In examining the case, the Court carefully revisited the reasoning used to convict Toutaiolepo in the Supreme Court and rejected key inferences relied upon by the trial judge.
The Crown had argued that her relationship to those involved in sending the shipment supported an inference that she must have known about the drugs.
However, the Court of Appeal found that assumption unsafe, noting there was no evidence she had any involvement in packing the drum or arranging its shipment from overseas. The judges said it was entirely plausible she had not been told about the drugs, even by family members.
The Court also found that a crucial statement made by Toutaiolepo had been misinterpreted at trial.
While the trial judge viewed her remarks as implying awareness of the illicit goods, the appellate judges disagreed, describing the statement instead as a straightforward denial that she knew about the drugs or owned them.
Similarly, the Court rejected reliance on a customs declaration she had signed stating she knew the contents of the shipment.
In context, the judges said the declaration was not sufficient proof of knowledge, particularly given that Toutaiolepo did not pack the goods, had no control over them, and was not in physical possession of the drum when it was opened and searched by customs officers.
After assessing all of the evidence, the Court concluded that the case against her fell well short of the required standard. It ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the finding that the only possible conclusion was that she knew the drugs were in the shipment.
Instead, the judges said the evidence left open a realistic and reasonable possibility that she was unaware of the drugs — a conclusion that legally mandated her acquittal.
The Court went on to find that a miscarriage of justice had occurred and took the further step of entering formal acquittals on both charges, rather than ordering a retrial.
It held that on the evidence presented, Toutaiolepo should have been acquitted at trial.
By emphasising the “reasonable possibility” that the accused may be innocent, the judgment reinforces the high burden placed on prosecutors, particularly in cases relying heavily on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the prison sentence of less than two years imposed on a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament convicted of indecent assault and strangulation.
MP Vātau Hui
Hui was jailed earlier this year after facing four charges, including three involving alleged sexual violence and one count of violence.
The former Cabinet Minister’s effective prison term is 15 months after the Court ordered his sentences to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for indecent assault, with the final nine months suspended, leaving 15 months to be served.
A further six-month sentence for strangulation will be served at the same time and does not add to the overall term.
The Crown alleged that in February 2023 he threw a chair at the complainant during an argument, and that in June 2023 he indecently assaulted her by touching her breasts for several minutes while she resisted and protested, during which he also strangled her.
An additional allegation of attempted indecent assault in July 2023 resulted in an acquittal.
Following a judge-alone trial, Justice Garlick convicted Hui on two counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault involving strangulation stemming from the June 2023 incident.
He was acquitted on the remaining charges.
Hui appealed Justice Garlick’s verdicts, arguing that the judge had erred in his assessment of consent. The Court of Appeal rejected that claim, finding the trial judge had properly explained why he accepted the complainant’s evidence on one incident while holding reasonable doubt on another.
He also challenged the sentence as manifestly excessive, pointing to his previous good character, his service as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, and his poor health following a stroke.
The appellate Justices Randerson, White and Dalton did find that the sentencing judge erred in treating Hui’s decision to go to trial as an aggravating factor, emphasising that a defendant’s exercise of the right to trial — even where it requires a complainant to give evidence — cannot lawfully be held against them.
However, the judges concluded that the sentence imposed remained appropriate despite that error.
The Court of Appeal ultimately dismissed both the appeal against conviction and the appeal against sentence.
A 59‑year‑old Tongan man has died following a traffic accident on Hawaiʻi Island after being struck by a vehicle while assisting with a tyre change on the roadside.
Sione Tilini
Police said the incident occurred at about 1.22pm on Sunday on Kawaihae Road (Highway 19), near the 65‑mile marker in South Kohala. Officers responding to the scene found that a black 2008 BMW sedan travelling eastbound had veered onto the shoulder and collided with a parked gold 2004 Toyota Camry.
The Toyota was unoccupied at the time but had been stopped on the shoulder facing east. Three people were outside the vehicle on the passenger side changing a front tyre when the collision occurred.
The victim, identified by police as Sione Tilini of Waimea, is believed to have been positioned between and partially underneath the passenger‑side wheels of the Toyota when it was struck. The impact caused the parked vehicle to fall onto him.
Tilini was taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2.47pm.
Two other individuals—a 19‑year‑old and an 11‑year‑old—sustained minor injuries after being struck when the Toyota was pushed forward by the impact. Both were treated at hospital and later released.
The driver and sole occupant of the BMW, a 22‑year‑old Waimea man, was also transported to hospital and remains in critical condition.
Police said the driver was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent injury, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. A negligent homicide investigation has been launched.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information relevant to the investigation to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi of the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
The death marks the fourth traffic fatality on Hawaiʻi Island within five days. Earlier this month, two men died in a two‑vehicle collision on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, and a woman was killed in a separate crash on Highway 11 in Hilo.
Sunday’s incident brings the total number of traffic fatalities on Hawaiʻi Island to nine so far this year, compared with 12 at the same time last year.
Commentary — The United States crackdown on BG Wealth Sharing, which collapsed last week, is now widening beyond the alleged operators of the scheme, raising the possibility that some promoters — including individuals within the Tongan community — could face increased scrutiny.
The development may carry implications for people seeking US immigration visas or access to government benefits, including applicants for green cards, citizenship, or public assistance.
US authorities announced they had frozen US$41 million allegedly linked to individuals behind BG Wealth, who were accused of attempting to move US$92 million through blockchain networks.
The case triggered strong reactions online, with some users arguing that victims had ignored repeated warnings about the scheme. Others pointed to concerns that several prominent promoters continued publicly encouraging participation despite alerts issued by US financial authorities in Washington and Utah, as well as warnings from officials in Tonga
Hawaii Issues Legal Order
In the aftermath of the collapse, the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issued a preliminary cease-and-desist order against BG Wealth Sharing LTD and several individuals, alleging violations of state securities laws.
The order names Cranci Ilima Luci Hoopai and Ligaya Joy Arcenas, also known as Ligaya Arcenas Buchacek, as alleged promoters linked to the investment operation. According to the filing, the company offered and sold unregistered securities through a cryptocurrency-based platform to residents of Hawaiʻi in an effort to solicit investments.
The State of Hawaiʻi is seeking administrative penalties of US$50,000 against each respondent — totalling US$150,000 — along with a permanent injunction barring them from participating in securities-related activities within the state.
US Eyes Online Promoter Activity
While no equivalent public warning or formal enforcement action has been announced against Tongan-based promoters, recent developments highlight another area that could attract regulatory or immigration scrutiny in the United States — individuals’ social media activity and online presence.
The screening of immigrants’ social media accounts is already embedded within US immigration procedures, allowing authorities to conduct broader background and risk assessments, particularly in cases involving fraud, security, or admissibility concerns.
As of 2026, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has further expanded its ability to review publicly available posts, images, online affiliations, and digital network connections where they are considered relevant to an immigration application or investigation.
This does not mean every applicant is automatically monitored or investigated for online activity. However, publicly visible posts or associations connected to alleged fraudulent investment schemes could potentially become relevant in assessments relating to credibility, admissibility, or eligibility for immigration benefits.
Tightened Visa Scrutiny
Several Tongans who recently attended US visa interviews have described the process as particularly rigorous, with some saying the questioning appeared highly detailed and focused on identifying even minor inconsistencies that could affect the outcome of an application.
While there are no known cases involving Tongans in relation to visa enforcement linked to BG Wealth, US immigration authorities have previously revoked visas or initiated removal proceedings in cases where individuals’ social media activity raised concerns relating to security, fraud, or public safety.
For communities active online, the episode serves as a reminder that publicly promoting controversial financial schemes can carry lasting reputational and regulatory consequences, particularly as US authorities intensify scrutiny of digital activity linked to potential fraud or misconduct.
A bill helping pave the way for digital driver’s licences has passed its third and final reading in Parliament.
Photo/1News
The Regulatory Systems (Transport) Amendment Bill, aimed at shifting paper-based and physical processes to digital ones, enabled the future use of digital licenses as an “optional alternative” to the familiar cards.
It will also enable “digital alternatives” to the display of warrants of fitness and registration labels.
The New Zealand Transport Agency will also have an enhanced ability to deliver regulatory notices electronically.
“The changes bring transport legislation up to date by allowing digital options instead of paper documents, improving online service delivery,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop said.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop in his car. (Source: Supplied)
“Transport legislation relied heavily on hard copy letters to be posted instead of being sent electronically. Last year alone, this resulted in 14 million letters, reminders, and labels being sent at a cost of $16.8 million to taxpayers.
“While some mail will still be required, these changes will allow many services to move to modern digital delivery.”
Bishop said privacy and security safeguards had been a “key focus” throughout the legislation’s journey through Parliament.
“Strong protections remain in place, with statutory obligations under the Privacy Act continuing to apply and existing contractual requirements protecting personal information,” he said.
Further legislative changes need to be made before digital licences can be implemented, with the public getting an opportunity to submit feedback “in due course”.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager said the bill will equip regulators with “effective tools”, reducing unnecessary compliance and better aligning inspection rules with modern vehicles and real-world risk.
James Meager (Source: Getty)
“Ultimately, these changes will make the system simpler to use, easier to enforce, and better for all transport users,” Meager said.
Meager previously said it was “important to note” that physical licences would “always be an option”, as the Government knew some people had issues accessing technology.
The bill, an omnibus bill, wasn’t just about driver’s licences – it also enabled changes across New Zealand’s transport law.
It will also introduce “clear duties on rail participants and personnel” to support rail accident and incident investigations, reinforced by appropriate offences and penalties. And it will strengthen maritime enforcement by increasing and clarifying infringement fees for breaches of navigation bylaws.
A man believed to be of Tongan descent has reportedly been assaulted while helping restrain a crash suspect following a series of incidents in western Sydney that ended with a vehicle engulfed in flames.
Western Sydney police said the incident unfolded late Sunday night after a chain of collisions involving a Toyota SUV driven by a 35-year-old man, identified in media reports as Siosifa Tupou.
According to Sydney media reports, the sequence began when the Toyota SUV allegedly collided with a Mercedes coupe on Hassall Street in Wetherill Park.
The vehicle then continued driving, crashing into a second vehicle on The Horsley Drive before striking a parked car on Maugham Crescent at about 11.20pm.
The SUV eventually came to a stop and caught fire, prompting bystanders to rush to the scene. Witnesses pulled the driver from the burning vehicle, with some attempting to restrain him as emergency services arrived.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, while police were informed of the earlier crashes. Despite the severity of the incidents, the drivers of the other vehicles were reported to be uninjured.
Police allege that the suspect became violent during his arrest, including biting an officer at the scene and refusing to undergo a roadside breath test.
The accused appeared in Fairfield Local Court on Monday, facing multiple charges including assaulting police, hindering police, failing to keep left, and refusing both a breath test and a breath analysis after arrest.
He was granted bail but has been banned from driving and must submit to drug and alcohol testing upon request.
A woman in Tonga who had been serving a life sentence for methamphetamine importation, and later received an additional sentence for importing drug-use utensils, has been released from prison following a successful appeal.
The development marks a significant turn in a high-profile case, although details of the Court of Appeal’s decision are still emerging. This remains a developing story, and further updates are expected.
As previously reported by Kaniva News, Anita Toutaiolepo, 46, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of importing more than 137 grams of methamphetamine into the Kingdom.
Her case later returned to court, where she faced an additional charge relating to the importation of drug-use utensils.
The second charge centred on six methamphetamine smoking pipes that were allegedly concealed within the same shipment that led to her original conviction.
The Supreme Court subsequently found her guilty, resulting in an additional sentence.
During earlier proceedings, the court noted several aggravating factors. These included Toutaiolepo’s failure to cooperate with authorities, her continued denial of responsibility despite conviction, and what the court described as a lack of remorse.
It was also highlighted that she provided shifting and contradictory explanations throughout the legal process.
Despite these findings, the Court of Appeal has now ruled in her favour, leading to her release from custody.
It has been confirmed that all Court of Appeal judgments, including Toutaiolepo’s decision, will be released to the media this Friday.
Editorial – The arrival of Pacific Games Council officials in Tonga this week should have marked the beginning of a proud national journey toward the 2031 Pacific Games. Instead, it has sharpened growing fears that the kingdom is drifting toward a financial commitment it may struggle to sustain.
L-R: Michael Bloomfield, Netina Latu Vea, Vidhya Lakhan, Andrew Minogue. Image: TASANOC
At the centre of this concern is a stark and troubling example — the National Sport Facility at Tonga High School. What was once celebrated as a symbol of progress has become a cautionary tale of unsustainable expense.
Lawmakers were reminded just last year that the facility’s electricity bill alone reaches an astonishing TOP$9,000 per month. Former Minister of Education, Dr Pingi Fasi, did not mince words when he described the ongoing maintenance costs as a “pa’anga lahi faka’ulia ‘oku fakamole ki ai” — a substantial and heavy financial outlay.
This is not theoretical — it is a continuing strain on public resources.
If Tonga is already struggling to sustain one modern sporting complex, the question must be asked: how can it reasonably expect to maintain multiple upgraded facilities required for an event as large as the Pacific Games?
The experience of Tonga High School’s facility shows clearly that these costs are not minor. They accumulate rapidly, deepening pressure on already constrained public finances.
Prestige at What Price?
Against this backdrop, the optimism expressed by Pacific Games officials deserves closer scrutiny.
TASANOC’s report from this week’s meeting described the 2031 Games as a “major opportunity” for Pacific athletes in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue further suggested the event could provide Olympic qualification pathways across several sports.
But such arguments ring increasingly hollow against the very real financial burden Tonga will be expected to carry.
We have heard these promises before — that hosting the Games will uplift Tonga’s sporting standards and inspire national pride. Yet these aspirations appear increasingly disconnected from the country’s economic reality.
While sport plays an important national role, it cannot take precedence over urgent infrastructure and economic needs affecting the wider population. Most Tongans are far more concerned with the pressures of daily life — the rising cost of living, infrastructure demands, education, and healthcare.
Tonga’s athletes already compete and benefit from Pacific Games hosted by nations with stronger financial capacity. Those countries absorb the economic strain while Tonga continues to enjoy the sporting opportunities without assuming the long-term risks.
The question remains unavoidable: why should Tonga now take on a burden that even better-resourced Pacific nations approach cautiously?
A Gamble Too Far
Tonga withdrew from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games after warning that the economic risks were too great.
At the time, former Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva also raised concerns about the potential misuse of sports funding following reports that questioned financial oversight and accountability.
The enthusiasm of visiting officials is understandable — expanding regional sport is part of their mandate. But for Tonga, the issue is not ambition; it is sustainability. Aspirations for sporting development cannot overshadow the government’s obligation to act within its financial means.
At a time when even maintaining a single sports facility has proven costly, the push to host the Pacific Games increasingly resembles a financial gamble Tonga cannot afford.
Power Crisis, Costly Ambition
Nowhere is this imbalance clearer than in Tonga’s ongoing electricity crisis.
Repeated power outages over more than a decade have become one of the most persistent challenges affecting life on Tongatapu. These disruptions are not minor inconveniences — they affect households, businesses, and essential services, while damaging equipment and undermining public confidence.
Reliable electricity is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity for economic stability and public wellbeing.
In light of this, Tonga’s determination to host the 2031 Pacific Games becomes increasingly difficult to justify.
Budget Strain, Aid Reliance
Here is a country where more than half of the national budget depends on foreign aid, yet it is pursuing a costly international event with uncertain long-term benefits for the wider population. The contradiction is difficult to ignore.
While ordinary citizens grapple with unreliable electricity and rising living costs, significant attention and resources are being directed toward a project that may ultimately benefit only a limited sector of society.
The issue is not opposition to sport, but the imbalance between national needs and national ambitions. When essential infrastructure remains unstable, committing to the immense financial and logistical demands of hosting the Pacific Games risks prioritising prestige over practicality.
Tonga cannot afford to neglect its foundational challenges while pursuing international recognition. Until critical infrastructure such as electricity becomes reliable and sustainable, any undertaking of this scale deserves far more rigorous scrutiny.
The time to confront these realities is now — before ambition hardens into obligation, and vision collapses into debt.
A New Zealand woman’s alleged loss of nearly $800,000 to an online romance scam is reinforcing warnings in Tonga about the growing threat of social media fraud.
The woman sent money, vouchers, cryptocurrency and bank transfers over several years to a man she met online who allegedly posed as a retired American general but is now believed to have been fake.
New Zealand Police say the case came to light last week when the woman approached Dunedin’s central police station seeking advice about a document she had received.
According to Sergeant Matthew Lee, the woman had been communicating over several years with a man she met online who claimed to be a retired American general.
Police say the victim was persuaded to send large sums of money through various means, including bank transfers, gift vouchers, and cryptocurrency payments.
Authorities believe the case highlights the increasing sophistication of online romance scams, where fraudsters create convincing identities to build trust before manipulating victims into providing financial support.
The case is particularly relevant to Tonga, where officials have already raised concerns about similar schemes targeting vulnerable individuals through social media platforms.
Tonga Warns of Scams
It comes after repeated warnings to Tongan crypto traders and those engaging with pyramid-style promotions online, as well as the recent collapse of the BG Wealth Sharing scheme, which left many Tongan participants facing losses.
In April 2026, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) issued a nationwide warning about a rise in romance scams, cautioning that fraudsters often create fake profiles to establish emotional connections before requesting money or financial details.
“These scams typically involve building a relationship over time,” the NRBT said, warning that victims are often persuaded to believe they are supporting a partner in financial distress or assisting with supposed official duties.
Police and financial authorities advise several key warning signs, including:
requests for money, vouchers, or cryptocurrency
claims of urgent emergencies or restricted access to funds
refusal or inability to meet in person or verify identity
inconsistencies in personal stories or background
Authorities in both New Zealand and Tonga are encouraging anyone who may be affected to come forward and seek help, noting that many victims may feel reluctant to report due to embarrassment or fear.
