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Kristian Taufa ,34, charged with trafficking youth on Las Vegas Strip

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Glenn Puit Las Vegas Review-Journal

A law enforcement task force that targets child sex trafficking has charged a California woman with trafficking a youth on the Las Vegas Strip after a man said he was pistol-whipped in his hotel room, police and court records show.

Kristian Taufa, 34, of Highland was arrested Sept. 1 at the MGM Grand as police investigated an armed robbery with ties to a youth engaged in prostitution, an arrest report for Taufa states.

The report says a man told police he was walking through the casino on the morning of Sept. 1 when he was approached by Taufa and a young woman. The young woman propositioned the man for sex in exchange for money, but he told the pair he doesn’t pay for sex. He continued to talk to the women. Eventually, the man and the young woman went to his room, where again he was propositioned for sex in exchange for money. The man again said he doesn’t pay for sex, but the young woman started engaging in sex with the man anyway.

He said a short time later the young woman started “acting strange” and he suspected he was being “set up,” according to the report. Within minutes, Taufa and a man identified in police records as Joseph Rowe, 51, barged into his room. The victim said he was pistol-whipped by Rowe, who demanded money from him at gunpoint. MGM Grand security then arrived and took everyone into custody. Las Vegas police officers asked the Las Vegas Child Exploitation Task Force to take over the investigation.

A task force detective said the young woman was identified as a juvenile. She initially claimed she was sexually assaulted but later acknowledged she was working in prostitution. She said she was brought to California by Taufa and Rowe on Aug. 30. She claimed they did not force her to engage in prostitution.

Police looked at the cellphone records of the teen, and in text conversations the teen messaged Taufa just before the robbery saying the victim “don’t wanna pay up.”

Taufa and Rowe declined to speak with investigators. Taufa is charged with sex trafficking of a child under 18, child abuse or neglect, conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary while in possession of firearm, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery and carrying a concealed weapon. Rowe is charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 22.

 

Truck and car smash into MV Taka‘ipōmana in Vava‘u

By
Kalino Latu
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The departure of the Taka’ipōmana vessel from Neiafu this morning was delayed after a truck crashed into a parked red mini car before it landed inside the vessel.

The vessel was at the Puatalefusi port preparing to leave for Tongatapu when the incident occurred.

The Tonga Power Board truck also crashed into another parked white Nissan Serena but no one was injured.

Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota told Kaniva News the vessel left Vava’u few hours later after an investigation was launched to make sure it was safe.

He said he suspected mechanical failure may be a factor in the crash.

The incident comes after a road roller overturned and fell into the sea at Vaipua bridge in Neiafu last month.

There were also allegations the roller’s brakes were unsafe.

Six men arrested after police investigation into historic abuse at Auckland school for boys

By
Kalino Latu
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This story originally appeared on TVNZ and is republished with permission

Police have arrested six men of retirement age after an extensive investigation called ‘Operation Beverly’ into historic offending at Auckland’s Dilworth School.

1 NEWS
Dilworth School for boys in Auckland. Source: Supplied

Police said the Auckland City criminal investigation branch had been investigating since a complaint was made to them a year ago, and the investigation uncovered a range of other offending and victims.

At this stage, 17 alleged victims have been identified by police.

The charges are as follows:

  • A 72-year-old man has been charged in relation to doing an indecent act and three counts of indecent assault.
  • A 73-year-old man faces numerous charges relating to sexual violation, indecent assault, sexual exploitation and supplying     class A, B and C drugs.
  • A 68-year-old man faces a charge of indecent assault and inducing an indecent act.
  • A 69-year-old man has been charged with indecent assault.
  • A 72-year-old man faces four charges relating to indecent assault.
  • A 78-year-old man has been charged with three counts of indecent assault.

Police said the men are expected to appear at Auckland District Court on October 5 and 6.

Anyone with further information that could assist police in regards to the school and this offending is encouraged to get in touch by calling 09 302 6624.

Police said all information received would be treated in the strictest confidence.

Democrats around the world  must stand up and put late PM Pōhiva’s principles into practice

By
Kalino Latu
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It is time for the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s followers to stand up and put his principles into practice, a leading figure in the overseas Democratic movement said yesterday.

The president of the PTOA Auckland Aotearoa chapter, Vainikolo Tāufa told Kaniva News the former Prime Minister had preached and educated the Tongan people about the principles of democracy.

Since his death on September 12, 2019, Democrat party (PTOA) chapters have been formed in several countries  by Tongans living overseas.

There are about six big chapters in New Zealand alone, and more in Australia and the United States.

The one in the US, known as PTOA Global Movement played a major role in designing the Movement’s policies.

The overseas chapters have launched a Housing for the Poor scheme.

Taufa told Kaniva News two new houses were launched in Tonga last week, one in Veitongo and one in Holeva, Vava’u.

They were funded by the PTOA Global Movement in collaboration with PTOA Auckland Aotearoa and some chapters in New Zealand and Australia.

Taufa, a carpenter who runs his own construction business in New Zealand said he had designed a new two-bedroom housing plan with an estimate of NZ$12,000 including labour and shipment of the building materials to Tonga, as part of the Movement’s housing scheme.

They were in contact now with a family in Hoi, in Tongatapu to complete a house the family built for themselves but was left incomplete.

“Our critics said what we are doing was in opposition to what ‘Akilisi did. ‘Akilisi only preached the advantages of democracy and he did not give out money or food or built houses for the poor,” Taufa said.

“’Akilisi did not give food to the poor or voters because he did not want to be seen as a politician who bought voters’ votes.

“‘Akilisi had a mission to free the commoners politically from the rule of the king alone.

“He fought to change Tonga’s political system into democracy, a system he believed could allow fair distribution of the country’s wealth and economy.

“The housing is part of our attempt to put ‘Akilisi’s mission into practice.

“‘Akilisi has died but his work and push to bring democracy to Tonga flourished and lives on.”

Tributes flooded in from around the world for leader who brought fire of democracy to Tonga

By
Philip Cass
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When former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva died on September 12 last year, tributes flooded in from around the world for the man who  fought for years to  bring democracy to Tonga.

Tongan scholar Professor Hūfanga ‘Ōkusitino Māhina once referred to Hon. Pōhiva in heroic mythological terms as the Maui Kisikisi of Tonga – the Maui who brought the fire from Pulotu – the underworld to Maama – the World.

In the hours following his death tributes flowed in for his role in bringing democracy to Tonga and his leadership on Pacific issues.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern said Hon. Pōhiva would be remembered for his lifelong commitment to championing democracy.

“He was also a powerful advocate for Pacific regionalism, demonstrated at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tuvalu where he advocated for climate change action and regional solidarity,” she said.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor said Hon. Pōhiva showed great courage in attending the most recent meeting, even though he was ill.

“I think, in many ways, he came to say goodbye, to show his respect and solidarity with the Forum Leaders and to make a final resounding stand on issues close to his heart,” Ms Taylor said.

“May his legacy stand true and be an inspiration to the people across the Blue Pacific.”

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said he mourned Hon. Pōhiva’s death.

“He inspired the world with raw emotion at last month’s Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu   which, despite his health, he attended in recognition of the urgency of climate action.

“We must honour his legacy by continuing this fight.”

Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, said: “My condolences for a good friend and principled leader”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was saddened to hear of Mr Pōhiva’s death, describing him as a “passionate advocate for his people.”

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Mr Pōhiva was “a respected leader in the Pacific and a good friend to Australia.”

Former Tongan publisher Kalafi Moala, who worked as the Prime Minister’s media adviser before  spectacularly falling out with him, acknowledged his role in leading the democracy movement in the kingdom.

“He played a key role in the political development of our nation,” Moala told the ABC’s Pacific Beat programme.

Tongans living in Brisbane expressed their sadness at Hon. Pōhiva’s death.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Brisbane Tongan Community mourns the passing of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Põhiva in Auckland, New Zealand aged 78,” a statement from the Tongan Brisbane Community said.

Defender of Democracy

A former teacher and broadcaster, Hon. Pōhiva was Tonga’s longest serving member of Parliament, entering the House in 1987.

In 2013 Hon. Pōhiva became the first Pacific Islander to be awarded the Defender of Democracy Award by the Parliamentarians for Global Action.

The following year he became the first commoner to be elected Prime Minister by Tonga’s Parliament.

“There was no one quite like him:” Pōhiva’s democratic message still relevant to kingdom, says his biographer

By
Philip Cass
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The late Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was a clear-visioned man whose message was still current, according to veteran Pacific journalist Michael Field.

Field, who is writing a biography of Hon. Pōhiva, said a book about his life would be useful to the kingdom. Tongans needed Hon. Pōhiva’s message, he said.

“I’ve known most of the Pacific leadership since 1975, and there was no one quite like him,” Field said.

Since Hon. Pōhiva’s death democracy and political progress appear to have largely disappeared from the Tongan political discourse. Field said developments in Tonga had come as no surprise.

In the past he has warned that Hon. Pōhiva’s democratic reforms could unravel and that dangerous times lay ahead for the kingdom.

Disentangling what the written records said happened and what people remember happening was not hard, Field said.

“It was not harder than any of the other various projects I worked on,” he said.

“The advantage is that if you’ve been around a while as a journalist you know how to keep pulling the right strings and then knitting it together into a story. The problem with some of it is that the research can be a bit tedious; lots of wading through documents.

“But biography is not exceptional in that sense – you just have to get used to drinking a lot of coffee.”

Field said it would be hard to pick a political biography that had inspired him or informed the way he approached the task.  He said political biography could often be influenced by how recently events occurred. In respect of the Hon. Pōhiva biography he said he was influenced by recent journalism and by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem’s e work on Queen Salote and Patricia O’Brien’s work on Samoa’s Taisi O.F.Nelson.

Field said he would like to a biography of Mata’afa Iosefa, the only man in global history to have beaten Germany, Britain and the United States on the battlefield. A critical biography of the Tongan royal family would be interesting and controversial.

He said he had often thought a biography of the ‘common soul’ of the ordinary people of the Pacific would be an intriguing project. (Field, 2020)

In 2010 Field said it would be unwise for Hon. Pōhiva to become Prime Minister because he was more revolutionary than leader.

However, when he died, Field described him as “remarkable.” Speaking to Kaniva News in January this year, Field said he saw no contradiction  between Pohiva’s remarkable  nature and  the problems of his administration.

“I stand by my original claim in 2010 that the premiership ended up as a mess,” Field said.

“What I did not know, but know now extensively, is how disruptive the anti-democratic forces have been on Tongan governance.

“I strongly believe that ‘Akilisi’s finest and most useful work was as the leader of a movement which happened to be in opposition for much of his political life.

“In many ways, even before he had become Prime Minister, he had saved Tonga. I will leave the argument for why until the book’s publication.

While Hon. Pōhiva was a champion of democracy he was accused by his enemies of corruption and sometimes  seemed to have laid himself open to charges of behaving in erratic and not entirely democratic ways. However, Field said many leaders could be accused of being erratic for a variety of reasons.

“The first Prime Minister I worked for used to go to events without shoes and could not use a phone, but he was brilliant all the same,” the veteran journalist said.

“People who go into politics full-time are different to the rest of us.

Field said Hon. Pōhiva’s entire life was one of intense struggle in everything he did.

“My sadness, as an observer and writer, is that he was among the many Pacific leaders who died in office,” Field said.

“I never said it to ‘Akilisi, but I did on other occasions to other politicians, point out the merits of retiring to enjoy life with the grandchildren, at the beach or somewhere, but Pōhiva and all the others, seem driven by their politics.”

The main points

  • The late Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was a clear-visioned man whose message was still current, according to veteran Pacific journalist Michael Field.
  • Field, who is writing a biography of Hon. Pōhiva, said a book about his life would be useful to the kingdom. Tongans needed Hon. Pōhiva’s message, he said.

For more information

This article appears in a slightly different form in the current edition of Pacific Journalism Review.

 

 

Fines for people selling bad food welcome, but must be consistently applied to control traders

By
Philip Cass
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Kaniva commentary

The news that the government will fine people selling expired food is welcome news.

CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Viliami Manu said this week people selling food they knew was  not fit or consumption would be fined.

The fines can be imposed after the passage of the Food Act 2020 through Parliament.

Dr. Manu said the Ministry was working to inspect foreign shops and businesses to ensure the area where they defrosted frozen food such as chicken meat boxes were hygienic and safe for use.

Historically, food has been imported from Australia and New Zealand, but now comes from much further afield: China, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The new bill regulates the production, commercially exporting and importing of food products and to ensure they are fit and safe for consumption.

In May Dr. Manu said the Ministry’s job was to make sure food could not affect consumers’ health.

He said people had to be warned three times and if they continued breaking the law they would be charged.

“The accused would face losing their business license or imprisonment for eight years or pay a fine of TP$100,000,” Dr. Manu said.

We believe the any regime of fines will have to be consistently and regularly applied to have an effect.

They should also be backed up by a change in thinking about what people are eating.

Tonga has put up with problems with imported food for too long.

As reported regularly in Kaniva news, the citizens of Vava’u have a long history of grievances over food, stretching back to complaints  about rotten rations and re-labelled expired and being distributed as cyclone relief.

Kaniva news has reported on several instances in Vava’u including dirt encrusted buckets of meat with no labels, inactive fridges full of food and reports of chicken that appears to be full of dark blood.

However, Vava’u is not the only place in Tonga where bad food has been found. The same problems have occurred in Tongatapu and Ha’apai.

Earlier this year we reported comments by His Majesty King Tupou VI that healthy living must become a permanent feature of Tonga in the future.

His Majesty urged people to eat healthy food, especially locally produced natural products.

The blame for the spread of diabetes has been attributed to the change in the Tongan diet from the traditional one of fish, root vegetables and coconuts to one involving imported food, especially tinned meat and fatty cuts like lamb flaps has been blamed for the spread of diseases like obesity and diabetes.

Some people also believe the desire for meat and tinned food has provided opportunities for unscrupulous merchants and importers  to import substandard food.

We argued at the time: “His Majesty’s call for healthy living should be a guide to how this problem can be treated. With all its health problems, Tonga does not need to have additional burdens placed on the health system or its people.

“While strengthening the country’s legal control of food imports, perhaps it is also time to remind people of the healthy options available from Tonga’s own soil and oceans.

“More consumption of this food could make the population healthier, but also boost the local economy by increasing income for fishermen and farmers.”

Kaniva mediawatch September 11, 2020

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan seasonal workers who have been stranded in New Zealand will be repatriated from Christchurch if government plans go ahead.

About 140-150 passengers are expected to be on the flight.

Discussions are underway with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Air New Zealand for a direct flight from Christchurch to Tonga.

The government is also looking at repatriating seasonal workers in Australia once their borders are open, with Brisbane the main focus as there are no community transmission there.

September is Women in Rugby Month.

The regional body Oceania Rugby has dedicated the whole of September to the women’s game under the title of Oceania Unstoppable.

President of the Tonga Women’s Rugby Association Hoko Tuivai said activities would include rugby clinics, with a focus on under 10s and under 16s, and then a festival of rugby at the end of the month.

The number of female players around the world has grown by more than 200 percent over the last six years.

There are more women involved not only as players, but also as coaches, officials and decision makers too.

Tagata Pasifika has highlighted the work of Tongan Methodist Minister Rev. Vaitu’ulala Ngahe in Manurewa.

Rev. Ngahe  believes in lotu mo’oni, or prayer and faith and has been practicing what he preaches.

He has been serving food parcels every week with a group of volunteers for people in need.

Members of the community said they were grateful for his support.

Rev. Ngahe told Tagata Pasifika that he was guided by the commandment to love thy neighbor as ourself.

Youth unemployment rates in Tonga could double as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic.

According to the latest statistics, the youth unemployment rate in Tonga in 2019 was 3.59%.

That is the conclusion of a new report from the Asian Development Bank and the International Labour Organisation.

The report says young people’s employment prospects in the Pacific will be hit harder than adults are severely challenged as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Union officials, economists and business leaders gathered in Suva this week, for the Pacific launch of a new report from the Asian Development Bank and the International Labour Organisation.

Job losses among young people will continue throughout 2020 and could result in youth employment rates doubling.

Tongan surgeon Lupe Taumoepeau will feature in an upcoming episode of a new television programme highlighting Pasifika success.

Talanoa with Tupe starts broadcasting on Oriana TV this Sunday, September 13, at 7.30pm.

Taumoepeau is a vascular and endovascular surgeon.

She is of Tongan descent and is the first New Zealand trained female Vascular Surgeon.

Supreme Court told Crown did not prove its case in gun importation case; judge again criticises  Customs Act

By
Kaniva Staff
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A man prosecuted for smuggling guns and ammunition into Tonga after a woman asked him to collect a box of goods imported from the United States  by her late husband, has escaped prosecution.

Vaipulu Ikamanu appeared in the Supreme Court on a charge of importing, on or about July 22, 2019,   a prohibited good, namely a .22 rifle without an import license under the Arms and Ammunition Act, contrary to section 95(1) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.

Ikamanu was also charged with illegally importing 6801 .22 rifle ammunition.

In his opening remarks for the Crown, Counsel Joe Fifita said that the accused had to bear the burden of proof in a smuggling or counterfeit prosecution, which this case is, was provided in section 117 of the Act.

However, Judge Niu, presiding,  said the definition of smuggling did not include “causing the importation of prohibited goods.”

More importantly he said the Act did not make clear what the accused had to prove.

“The Crown merely says that the accused has the burden of disproving the case against him,” the judge said.

“On the other hand, the defence says that the provision is no more than the reverse onus principle which is that as long as the accused has established a positive defence, upon a balance of probability, the onus reverts to the prosecution to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Defence counsel Siosifa Tu’utafaiva argued that the indictment was bad because it did not specify or give any particular of what the accused was alleged to have done to have caused the restricted goods to have been imported.

“I agree with Mr Tu’utafaiva,” the judge said.

“An indictment is not an indictment unless it states the act (or omission) which the accused is alleged to have done that constitutes the offence with which he is charged.

“That is the essence of a fair trial, that the accused is informed before the trial, what it is he alleged to have done, in order that he can properly prepare to defend the charge which is brought against him.”

The judge said the Crown had not proved its case.

The evidence showed that a box had been imported from the United States and lain uncollected because the shipper, Sione L. Toki, had died. His widow had asked the accused to try to collect the box from Customs.

It was not known if Toki had died before the box arrived in Tonga because it was not known when he died or when the box arrived in Tonga.

“The evidence required to prove the commission thereof must be strong, such that despite evidence produced or given by an accused, it is proof beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge said.

“I find that the Crown has not proved that he did anything which caused the extra rifle and bullets to be imported.

“The Crown has failed to prove the two charges it has brought against the accused, and I dismiss them and discharge the accused.”

Two women lawyers appointed King’s Counsel

By
Kaniva Staff
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Former Attorney General ‘Alisi Taumoepeau and Lawyer Petunia Tupou have been appointed to the rank of King’s Counsel.

A welcome ceremony is expected on September 21 to mark the appointment of the silks.

“…the two new ‘silks’ will take their bows and receive their letters of appointment,” a statement said of the two new members of the Privy Council.

The king through his Privy Council oversees the appointments of other key public servants such as the police commissioner, judges and the attorney general.

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