Mystery is surrounding a Tongan man’s injuries after Police denied any responsibility supported by a Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) investigation into the matter.
Taniela Feaomoengalu, 37, seen here in Auckland Hospital with injuries he claims were inflicted by police. Photo / Supplied
Taniela Feaomoengalu, 37, was arrested outside an Onehunga bar after he “entered into a verbal dispute with police officers who were attending a family harm incident nearby,” the NZ Herald reported.
He received treatment for concussion and an eye injury.
Fe’aomoengalu alleged his injuries occurred while he was “in custody after being arrested for disorderly conduct.”
“A police spokesperson said any suggestion of police assault is completely wrong and not backed up by any evidence or witnesses. However, the spokesperson would not comment on where Feaomoengalu’s injuries came from.”
Feaomoengalu was at The Bramble Bar in Onehunga with friends on Friday, March 8, 2019, the Herald said.
“Feaomoengalu, a café catering assistant, claimed he had approached the officers’ vehicle to take images on his phone of how it was parked across the road and footpath, before being told by officers to put his phone away and leave.”
He was arrested after the situation escalated as officers tried to remove Feaomoengalu’s phone.
He was handcuffed and then transported by police car to the Auckland Police Station.
“On the way, Feaomoengalu alleges he was beaten and choked with a metal bar under his jaw by an officer travelling with him.”
Police claim Feaomoengalu displayed “extremely erratic behaviour” during the ride but could not detail how he got his injuries.
IPCA manager Griffyn Gully-Davies said officers denied using any kind of weapon against Feaomoengalu and they claimed Feaomoengalu’s mood was unpredictable, varying from crying to yelling abuse.
Police also claimed Feaomoengalu made allegations that he had been assaulted in a bar earlier that evening. After an investigation, police found no evidence of this.
By RNZ.co.nz. This story is republished with permission
A powerhouse on the field in both rugby and rugby league, Mele Hufanga is aiming to tackle the health challenges of Pasifika head on.
Former Black Fern, Mele Hufanga, aims to tackle the health challenges of Pasifika head on. Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly
The 26-year-old was running boot-camp style challenges alongside her brother Patrick Hufanga, founder of Beastmode Fitness.
Over 110 people signed up for the recent six week challenge, all of them Pacific Islanders.
“It’s basically about bettering yourself in life…it’s a challenge for people who come from different forms, shapes and sizes, just for us to push them to have a better life, a healthy life,” she said.
Just over 63 percent of Pacific adults and around 29 percent of Pacific children in New Zealand were classified obese.
Diabetes struck Pasifika at twice the rate of the general population, with a quarter of Pacific people in New Zealand on track to becoming Type-2 diabetics by 2040.
The Tonga women’s rugby league international said watching their mother struggle with diabetes had been the inspiration to helping others live a more active and healthier lifestyle.
“Being a PI, Pasifika person, it’s not fun at all knowing that your own [family] member has diabetes, especially [when] your mum is diagnosed with diabetes type two,” she said.
“That motivates me and my family to get out there and do something like this. The last thing we want is for other people to go through what we’re going through.”
Photo: RNZ / Talei Anderson
Her brother Patrick hoped these challenges would create awareness of the epidemic Pasifika were facing while helping prevent obesity and diabetes rates from growing.
“Our Polynesian people are going through obesity, diabetes, you know you walk into any doctors around here in South Auckland, and it’s packed full of our people and it’s mainly because of that,” he said.
“I saw that [struggle] through my mother. She went through diabetes and all that, so it was time for me to start changing people’s lives but that’s my hope of it and that’s the main cause of this training stuff, that’s why it’s very important for me and Mele to do this.”
Mele said it was about doing what was right for the next generation.
Photo: RNZ / Talei Anderson
“Those are the people that we want to help more and push them to not become diabetic and for the next generation as well. Most of these people in this challenge are married, some of them don’t have kids, some of them do have kids but at least they know that they don’t want their kids or their next generation to go through what they’re going through.”
Participants were expected to attend at least three training sessions per week, with the Hufanga siblings holding sessions six nights a week at Māngere’s Centre Park.
Mele said people had joined for different reasons, but there was one success story which kept her going.
“I had this one girl who told me her and her husband were trying to have kids, but she couldn’t because she needed to lose weight. She was almost at the line of being diabetic. After 10 weeks, she was told she wasn’t on the mark of being diabetic and she fell pregnant as well.”
“One thing that my mum has taught me in life, the saying in Tongan is: ‘ae kataki ke lahi’, and that means even though times get hard, times get tough you know just give it your all. These challenges motivate me knowing the fact that I’ve got nothing in my hands but if I give my all to people, give my time and commitment to them and if I believe in them, anything could happen.
“…that’s why it’s important for me to do this. I’m not a professional. I’m not a personal trainer, I’m not a nutritionist, but I’m helping in a way I know I can.”
The captain of Auckland’s Marist Rugby Club had been involved in a number of campaigns, but she said her time in the Tongan camp highlighted the importance of culture.
She believed the fitness challenges had been a success because they were driven by Pasifika values.
Photo: RNZ / Talei Anderson
“Usually when I go to camps they talk about culture and values but that doesn’t really get me, but when I went into that camp I walked out with something and it got me knowing culture and values is so important.
“Faith is important, family is important, love is important and kindness. Kindness is everything because what you say to people, some of the words can be with them forever. One thing I know about us PI people is that we know how to share, we know how to care for each other, we know how to be kind, and I guess if we’re all in this together then it is what it is, we’re just helping each other out.”
Patrick said he was overwhelmed with how many people were giving their boot-camps a go.
“To be honest, I had to think about it twice getting her [Mele] to jump on board, but…she’s a bit more famous than me out on the sports-world out here.”
“She’s a really good speaker, especially a good trainer and she brings the vibe to everybody and she pushes people to the limits. That’s the main thing about Mele, she can push you to your limits with no excuses at all.”
Photo: RNZ / Talei Anderson
He was also stoked to see the South Auckland community come together to work on their health and fitness as a team.
“Me and Mele didn’t expect everyone to come back on the second week, so I guess we’re building the culture around not just training but getting people to vibe together. People are coming from Māngere, from Manurewa, all over South Auckland, so everybody’s vibing together and just making new friends.”
In 2015 Mele Hufanga scored a record 16 tries for the Auckland Storm as they went on to win the New Zealand women’s provincial rugby title.
But the former Black Ferns squad member said there was one record she wanted more than anything.
“I just want to see improvement from everyone. I’m looking forward to proving them wrong because I know a lot of them are doubting themselves, and I want to see them realise they did this, they ran, they did the workouts and they’re putting their health first.
“I know that we all come from different walks in life, but you know that little help that we have put in to this challenge to help others be better, it means a lot to us to witness people that have never trained in their lives, to rock up and try something new, get out of their comfort zone and I think that’s that’s what motivates us to do what we do.”
By RNZ.co.nz. This story is republished with permission
Toutai Kefu has been re-appointed as coach of the ‘Ikale Tahi until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Toutai Kefu is back at the helm. Photo: Supplied/Tonga Rugby Union
He was previously in charge between 2016 and 2019, leading Tonga to nine wins from 28 tests, and also had brief stints as a technical advisor and interim head coach.
The Kolomotu’a born Kefu was the “unanimous” choice of the Tonga Rugby Union’s Joint Management Committee, from a pool of 35 applicants.
New CEO Peter Harding – himself a recent appointment – said it was pleasing to see a number of ex Tonga internationals who are coaching abroad also put their names forward for the ‘Ikale Tahi job.
Covid-19 permitting, Toutai Kefu will be required to spend at least four months per year in Tonga to act as a technical director for the union, assisting and educating local coaches.
The ‘Ikale Tahi ended their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign on a winning note against the USA. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The former Wallabies number eight will start work immediately, with Tonga scheduled to play two Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Samoa in July, with additional coaching staff and the first ‘Ikale Tahi squad in two years to be announced in due course.
A Tongatapu man who used counterfeit money to purchase items at businesses across the mainland was sentenced to less than two years imprisonment in the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa this morning.
Tonga Soane, 57, was found guilty after being convicted of three counts after attempting to use the fake bills at a bar, petrol station, restaurant and a taxi company.
On the evening of 6 December 2019 Soane paid $50 to the Telekava petrol station for fuel.
He also purchased beer at the Reload Bar using three $50 pa’anga notes. The cashiers at both establishments rejected his notes .
The Tonga National Reserve Bank later confirmed those pa’anga notes, among others, were fake.
Soane also ordered food from the Talahiva Restaurant for which he gave the cashier a $100 note. He was confronted there for using fake note before he left. The prisoner claimed the fake notes must have been given to him from the previous shop he was at. That explanation was rejected at trial.
The prisoner then hired a taxi to drive him around Tongatapu. He paid the driver three $100 notes before the manager of the taxi base complained to the police. Soane was arrested and charged.
He said in an interview with a probation officer that “he paid all the alleged amount that he owed in the offences”.
He “has not shown any remorse, nor does he regret what he did.”
His lawyer told the Supreme court in Nuku’alofa this morning April 1 his client has “previous good character”.
In sentencing Soane, the Lord Chief Jusrice said Soane is convicted of uttering counterfeit currency and was variably given three terms of imprisonment for the crimes he committed. Mr. Whitten suspended the last four months.
“All terms are to be served concurrently.”
Soane must also:
(a) be placed on probation;
(b) report to the probation office within 48 hours of his release; and
(c) undertake such life skills or other courses as his probation officer directs.
“I order that the counterfeit currency the subject of this proceeding be destroyed.”
Soane was also locked up in 1990s in New Zealand after he was convicted of rape and sentenced to a five-year imprisonment. Upon his release, he was deported to Tonga.
In 1999, he was convicted of theft and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Na’e tautea ‘i he pongipongi ‘o e ‘aho ni’ ‘a Tonga Soane ta’u 57 ki he hia ko hono fakatau’aki ha koloa e pa’anga loi. Ko e taki pa’anga $50 mo $100 Tonga kākaa’i ‘eni hono fa’u’ ‘o ne totongi ‘utu’aki ha pausa, fakatau me’akai, pia ‘i ha pā mo totongi’aki ha tekisī ke ‘eva takai ai ‘i Tonga. Kuo’ ne ngāue pōpula ai ‘i he ta’u ‘e taha māhina ‘e fā, ka kuo toloi malu’i angalelei ‘a e māhina ‘e fā faka’osi’. ‘I he 1990 tupu ne ngāue pōpula ai ‘i Nu’u Sila ki he tohotoho pea iku ‘o tipooti ai ia ki Tonga ‘o ne toe ngāue pōpula ai ki he hia ko e kaiha’a.
While Tongans who believe they have been ripped off by recent schemes are trying to get a refund, they can lodge a complaint with the New Zealand Commerce Commission.
After the news of the scams broke on Sunday, some operators took to Facebook claiming they were not pyramid schemes, but were genuine businesses that could definitely pay their members in full.
There is a huge uproar in the Tongan online community with victims speaking up about their ordeals.
Some Tongan Facebook groups have removed links to the schemes after declaring they were working to refund their members money after realising they were pyramid schemes.
Scammers operating through Facebook promised huge returns on investments.
Some schemes told Facebook groups to register $780 for a return of $6000.
Others claimed that if people deposited $500 for a spot in their scheme they would get $2500 back.
One woman who asked not to be identified paid for four spots expecting to get back $10,000. She told Kaniva News she was never paid the money. She contacted the group and was told the organisers were still looking for a way on how to get her money back.
Ways to complain
While people like her are fighting to get their money back, they can help the Commerce Commission, which is investigating the scams, by reporting what has happened.
There are three ways to do this. One is to phone the Commission on 0800 943 600. Another is to contact them on contact@comcom.govt.nz.
The Commission can take action about misleading or deceptive conduct that occurs in trade, including pyramid schemes. In the past it has warned off people involved in promoting scams and has issued warnings to the public about fraudulent activities.
People who do not speak English or feel they would be more confident in talking to Commerce Commission in Tongan can tell the Commission they wanted a translator.
Tongans and Tongan groups in Auckland appear to have been the subject of what the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority calls affinity fraud – schemes that prey on people who trust each other, such as members of religious, social or cultural groups. They abuse the trust that exists within these groups to steal money.
Citing a TVNZ report by Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver, we reported the online schemes have targeted Tongans in churches, community groups and families across Auckland.
The schemes are presented as gifting programmes or investments.
The schemes rely on promoters signing up recruits and using their investment to pay off people who signed up earlier. These schemes collapse as soon as they run out of new recruits and people who invested later lose everything.
In April 2019 we reported on a pyramid scheme being promoted in Tonga by a company called WorldVenture. The National Reserve Bank warned the public against investing in the scheme and said anybody convicted of promoting such a scheme could face a TP$1 million fine and 30 years jail.
As the New Zealand Commerce Commission says: “There are no get-rich-quick schemes: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
AUCKLAND, NZ The Supreme Court has dismissed the legal challenges made by convicted killers Mesui Tufui and Fisilau Tapaevalu after being found guilty of murdering an Auckland-based Tongan man.
Epalahame Tu’uheava, was found lying dead beside his seriously injured wife Mele Yolanda Tu’uheava. Photo/Facebook
In their decision this month March 18, three judges agree that no substantial miscarriage of justice has occurred and agree with the Court of Appeal’s decision, and the decisions by a judge in the High Court that two Tongan cousins Tufui and Tapaevalu were found guilty of the killing of ‘Epalahame Tu’uheava and the attempted murder of his wife, Yolanda.
Tufui can seek parole after 19 years, Tapaevalu after 17 years.
The latest court decision came after Tufui appealed his conviction and Fisilau Tapaevalu appealed his sentence early last year at the Court of Appeal after their sentencing at the High Court in August 2019.
Both appeals were dismissed in November last year.
‘Epalahame and his wife were shot multiple times in the head on a Mangere street in the early morning of 1 May 2018.
Yolanda survived after playing dead. She told the court in June 2018 the pair lived in Australia for around three years, until 2017.
She said during that time, her husband developed a close association to the leader of the Nomads gang.
When they returned to New Zealand for financial reasons, she told the court Epalahame started to take notice of the Comancheros.
“He admired them,” she said.
This month in March 18, in a decision delivered by Justices William Young, O’Regan and Ellen France, the Supreme Court ruled it was satisfied that nothing in Tapaevalu’s case, “gives rise to an appearance of a miscarriage of justice in the Court of Appeal’s assessment of the factual circumstances and the relative culpabilities.”
“The argument raised does not suggest such a possibility in this case,” the judges said.
“The criteria for leave to appeal are accordingly not met. The application for leave to appeal is dismissed”.
In Tufui’s case, the judges said “we accept the submission for the respondent that considering the issue in terms of trial fairness would not change the required analysis in this case from that adopted by the Court of Appeal”.
“The application for leave to appeal is accordingly dismissed.
Tufui sought leave to appeal based on claims “that he should have been permitted to put to Mrs Tu’uheava the arrest photographs of Mr Tapaevalu”.
He claimed these photos have “better quality than the image in the photograph montage she had been shown.”
He said that “the inability to put this evidence to the witness, which the Court of Appeal accepted was an error, resulted in a miscarriage of justice because there was a reasonable possibility that a different verdict would have been returned”.
Tapaevalu argued that “there is a public interest in considering the approach to sentencing for those in the role of a secondary party”.
He also argued that the “imposition of a 17-year minimum term of imprisonment was manifestly excessive given the features of his offending, including the finding that the murder was not premeditated; his role as a secondary party (as the driver, and not in a leading or organisational role); the fact he did not have a gun; and the fact he did not participate in the physical act of shooting”.
This story by RNZ.co.nz is republished with permission
Tonga’s head of prisons is hopeful a severe overcrowding problem will be resolved soon.
Hu’atolitoli, on Tongatapu, is badly overcrowded with the Prison Commissioner Semisi Tapueluelu, saying cells built for one were now housing up to four inmates.
Tapueluelu said there were 51 cells, which should each hold one person each, however he said sometimes the prison roster was as high as 180.
There were also inmates with psychiatric issues in Hu’atolitoli because the main clinic at Vaiola Hospital was sending erratic and hard to control patients to the jail.
The commissioner said there were a number of reasons for the growing prison population.
He said this included people who’d committed drug offences, juveniles and those jailed for breaking Covid-19 detention rules, while the number of psychiatric patients was also up.
Tapueluelu said these patients were simply provided with accommodation – there was no medical care available to them.
But he recently invited government ministers to tour the prison and he said there was now the political will to ensure changes were made.
Tapueluelu wouldn’t be drawn on what changes might be made, but he felt the MPs understood the issue and the needed to do something about it.
The man who headed up the psychiatric facility at the Vaiola hospital, Dr Mapa Puloka, said the key issue for him was that there was some facility at the prison that could house female psychiatric patients separately, so they were not just included in with other prisoners.
He also confirmed reports that the explosion in drug use in Tonga in recent years had led to more psychiatric cases.
An undercover sting in Maui, Hawai’i focusing on those who seek to have sex with children has resulted in seven arrests — including a Tongan man identified as Finehafo’ou Hafoka, 26, of Kahului.
The seven suspects were arrested and charged under the sting operation. (Top row from left to right: Ulep, Oluwatimilehin, Irvine, Mann) (Source: Maui Police Department)
The suspects were arrested on Friday and Sunday and charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child, the Hawai’i News Now reported.
“Several suspects also face a charge of promoting pornography or electronic indecency.
Police said the accused allegedly talked online to individuals they believed were underage minors,” it said.
They then took “substantial steps” to meet the underage person for sex, the paper quoted Police as saying.
“Instead, the alleged offenders were met with law enforcement officers.
Bail for each of the suspects has been set at $150,000.
“The online sexual exploitation of young children and teenagers alike in our community is happening and is a real threat,” Maui Police said in a news release..
“The offenders come from all different walks of life and all different backgrounds.
“The only commonality is the lasting emotional and physical damage that they do to our children,”
“All cases have been turned over to the county’s prosecuting attorney for review.
Operation Keiki Shield is led by the state Attorney General, Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and involves the work of local and state enforcement officers.”
This story by RNZ.co.nz is republished with permission
Former All Black Charles Piutau will not be available to play for Tonga in the final Olympic Sevens Qualifier in Monaco.
Former All Black Charles Piutau is among a host of Pacific Island rugby stars playing for Bristol. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Players with eligibility for more than one country can switch their international allegiance by participating in Olympic qualifying events provided they had a passport for the second country and complete a stand down period of three years.
Piutau played the last of his 17 tests for the All Blacks in 2015 and previously stated he would love to represent his Tongan heritage.
The Olympic Sevens Qualifier had been earmarked as a chance for the 29 year old to complete his switch from New Zealand to Tonga, alongside another ex All Black, Malakai Fekitoa.
But new Tonga Rugby CEO Peter Harding said that was unlikely, as the tournament clashed with the semi finals of the English Premiership on 19-20 June.
“As far as us getting Charles or Malakai or those guys, the only way we can do that is if they take a massive chance with their contracts which, let’s face it, that’s a risk,” he said.
“Whether they’re willing to take that risk it’s going to be up to them but it’s a big risk for them. I don’t know how many of those people we will get across – I don’t think we’ll get very many at all.”
Peter Harding, new CEO of Tonga Rugby Union Photo: World Rugby
Piutau is a key figure in the Bristol Bears side which currently tops the English standings seven rounds out from the playoffs, where the former Tonga Under 20s international plays alongside his older brother Siale, who captained the ‘Ikale Tahi at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Bristol coach Pat Lam has previously indicated his support for players being able to switch allegiance to represent their Pacific Island heritage, telling RNZ’s Champions of the Pacific programme that Piutau and Steven Luatua “could be a massive asset” to Tonga and Samoa.
But a spokesperson for the club confirmed that if the Bears make the playoffs in June “those boys will be playing for (the) Bears”.
Charles Piutau last played for the All Blacks in 2015. Photo: Photosport
Tonga was not a core side on the World Sevens Series circuit and if Piutau did not feature in Monaco the next time he would be able to switch his international allegience would be at the Oceania Sevens Championship in 2023, by which time he would be 32 and would miss out on representing the ‘Ikale Tahi at the 2023 World Cup.
Peter Harding was philosophical.
“If it was on a different weekend we wouldn’t have any trouble getting these guys across but realistically it’s not on a different weekend, it’s on a weekend where they most likely can’t come so that’s life,” he said.
“These people have private contracts with clubs, whether we’re playing or whether it’s the Olympic qualifier, and they have to look after their contracts and their family and if they do come sometimes they have to make decisions they would prefer not to be making but they have to make the right decision for their family and their future, it’s very difficult for them.”
There was still hope that Malakai Fekitoa would be able to play in Monaco. The Ha’apai-born midfielder was part of a Wasps team that were ninth and seemingly out of contention for the playoffs, which would allow the 28 year old to link up with the Tongan squad following the completion of the regular season.
Wasps centre Malakai Fekitoa last played for the All Blacks in 2017. Photo: AFP
Peter Harding hinted there were some other players also on Tonga’s radar to play in Monaco and praised the job that coach Tevita Tu’ifua and manager Richard Weightmann had done with the men’s sevens programme over the last two and a half years.
“Let’s make no bones about it, they’re obviously very good at their jobs and they’ve done a fantastic job under a fair bit of pressure, mind you,” he said.
“They’ve pulled a great programme together there and one thing I did do while I wasn’t involved was to talk the board into fully supporting them last year, while things were a little bit ropey and while they were deciding things, because their programme is of great value to Tonga Rugby.”
The Minister of Infrastructure ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her disgraced husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu, once again had their case adjourned when they appeared at the Magistrate court this morning March 29.
Minister of Infrastructure ‘Akosita Lavulavu and husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu. Photo/Akosita Lavulavu (Facebook)
The Leader of the Opposition Party Semisi Sika, who was one of the witnesses in the case claimed they were told the Magistrate was unable to attend the session due to an illness.
The last time it was postponed was March 18 after the Lavulavus failed to turn up because they were in Vava’u.
Sika said the trial would resume this Thursday April 1.
On April 12 the couple are expected to appear at the Supreme Court to face another separate fraud trial.
In that case, ‘Etuate and Akosita will jointly stand trial on three counts of obtaining money by false pretences and three counts of knowingly dealing with forged documents.
The charges arise from an investigation of the finances of the ‘Unuaki ‘O Tonga Royal Institute, a private education provider.
Akosita was the director and ‘Etuate was the president.
Their case this Thursday arises from a dispute after their landlord in Vava’u vehemently denied writing and signing a letter which was submitted to the Ministry of Lands and Survey telling them he agreed to allow ousted Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate to quarry rocks on his land.
The letter was believed to be written by the Lavulavus.
Sione Tunufa’i Tui said he learned further quarrying activities operated on seven acres of his eight acre tax allotment in Ta’anea were based on a letter he claimed he did not know was submitted to the Ministry of Lands and Survey three years ago.
A copy of the letter, seen by Kaniva News, was purportedly showed Tui’s signature.
Tui told Kaniva News in a previous exclusive interview he never signed such letter.
‘Etuate, the People’s Party Deputy Chairman – the Party in which the Prime Minister was a founding member – previously told Kaniva News Tui allegedly signed the letter and there were people who could bear witness to it.
He claimed Tui’s signature varied whenever he signed.
Controversial backgrounds
‘Etuate Lavulavu is no stranger to courts, controversy or convictions.
In 2003 he was arrested by the FBI while trying to board a flight from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. He was charged with falsifying immigration papers for Tongans to become American Citizens as part of a scam carried out with his brother. He pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a birth certificate, but only had to pay costs.
In 2004 he began referring to himself as “professor” and said he had a doctorate from an American institution, which turned out to be a notorious “mail order” university which essentially sells degrees.
The Director of Education said at the time that the Ministry did not recognise his “professorship.”
In 2016 Tonga’s Supreme Court convicted him of bribery and spending over the legal limit on his 2014 election campaign.
The judge said Lavulavu was not a credible witness and that his evidence was implausible, evasive and untruthful.
As a result of his conviction he was kicked out of Parliament. His wife Akosita won the by-election in his electorate.
In a case in 2000, Lavulavu was sued by the Late Prince Tu’ipelehake for damages and unlawful cultivation of his land. In his summing up of the trial, Lord Chief Justice Ward said Lavulavu “was willing to say almost anything that seemed to suit the moment with a repeated disregard for the truth.”
Last year the Supreme Court ordered ‘Akosita to pay the plaintiffs’ costs after Lord Chief Justice Whitten quashed her decision to deny whale watching and swimming licences to a group of companies.
Mr Whitten said the Minister’s decisions were infected by errors of law.
Tonga Soane, 57, was found guilty after being convicted of three counts after attempting to use the fake bills at a bar, petrol station, restaurant and a taxi company.
After the news of the scams broke on Sunday, some operators took to Facebook claiming they were not pyramid schemes, but were genuine businesses that could definitely pay their members in full.
