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Court refuses to return passport to convicted ‘Etuate Lavulavu who wanted to travel abroad

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Supreme court has refused to return a passport to former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu, who has been convicted of fraud, to allow him travel overseas.

Minister of Infrastructure ‘Akosita Lavulavu and husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu. Photo/Akosita Lavulavu (Facebook)

‘Etuate and his wife ‘Akosita Lavulavu, also a former MP and Cabinet Minister were convicted on three counts of obtaining money by false pretences.

They were found guilty of fraudulently obtaining money from the Ministry of Education and Training by lying in applications for money from the Technical Vocational Educational Training Grant about the number of students enrolled at their private college, the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute.

The Lavulavus successfully appealed part of their sentences while they were at the Hu’atolitoli prison. However, the Court of Appeal said sufficient evidence had been presented at the original trial to have gained a conviction on a correct application of relevant legal principles. It granted the Lavulavus a retrial.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten has set the retrial date to May 8, 2023.

Mr Whitten also refused ‘Etuate’s request to return his items seized by the police.

“His request for a letter from the Court “officially declaring that his record is clear from the charges” is also refused”, Mr Whitten said.

“This Ruling shall stand as an official declaration as to the effects of the Court of Appeal’s orders for a retrial and Mr and Mrs Lavulavu’s current bail status”.

“However, as indicated during the hearing, I do regard it as important for the DPP to expeditiously decide whether to proceed with any retrial.

“The interests of justice, which include those of Mr and Mrs Lavulavu and their need for certainty, the Crown, any witnesses to be called and the community’s interest in the limited resources of the State and the Court being applied efficiently and effectively, will not be fostered and are in fact likely to be prejudiced, by any undue delay in proceeding with this matter one way or the other.

“Any connection between Mr Lavulavu’s recent complaints to the Tonga Law Society about the original trial and any decision whether to proceed with a retrial was not elucidated by Mrs Aleamotu’a during her submissions.

“For that reason, I direct that, by 30 November 2022, the OPP is to file a notice as to whether the Crown intends to proceed with a retrial.

“Further, if by that date, the Crown decides to proceed, the retrial will be listed to commence on 8 May 2023 and on an estimate of four weeks”.

Rapper who sings Si‘oto Loto and a Tongan Air NZ baggage handler caught in meth import attempt

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan baggage handler has been sentenced to home detention for his role in a botched attempt to import nearly $8 million worth of methamphetamine during Auckland’s Covid-19 lockdown.

Romney Fukofuka who is also known by his stage name Konecs

George Taukolo previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to import methamphetamine and was sentenced earlier this month to 12 months of home detention at Manukau District Court. His two other co-accused, Daniel Ah Hong and Mark Castillo received the same sentence.

Taukolo’s sentence came after Tongan muso, Romney Fukofuka, who is also known by his stage name Konecs travelled back in May 2020 from the United States with 19.4kg of methamphetamine stashed in a suitcase.

Fukofuka lived a ‘gangster’ life and was an aspiring musician who released a number of music videos online. One of his most popular releases was the Tongan song Si’oto Loto which garnered more than 4 million viewers on YouTube.

Taukolo and his co-accused were supposed to collect the suitcase off a conveyor belt at Auckland Airport, and were told they would be paid NZ$20,000 for doing so.

While they said they didn’t know what was in the suitcase, they previously admitted that they believed it could be drugs.

Fukofuka sent a message during his return voyage, saying he had “made a mistake” and was carrying a bag with him on board the plane, rather than checking it in.

Later police seized the phones of the three men, as well as others involved in the importation, and the three men were arrested.

Fukofuka pleaded guilty in September to charges of importing nearly 20kg of methamphetamine from the US, attempting to import another 15kg and offering to supply the Class A drug.

He is on bail so he can complete a drug rehabilitation programme before the sentence hearing next year.

Lulutai Airlines accused of ‘poor services’, failure to refund cancelled flight passengers

By
Kaniva Staff
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Flight cancellations continue in Vava’u after Lulutai airlines had been accused of failing to refund or reapprove passengers whose flights had been cancelled.

Critics said the government’s funded sole domestic carrier is the poorest service ever in the kingdom.

The flight cancellation last Saturday came after the services were disrupted last month and a Fiji aircraft was hired to takeover.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said in Parliament the lack of pilots due to Covid’s impacts contributed to the disruptions.

He said one pilot only was available while the rest did not have any chance during the pandemic to renew their license.

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He said the pilots are only allowed to work according to certain number of hours and they could not exceed that.

He said that an ATR72 aircraft from Fiji was expected to fly the stranded passengers with three flights starting on November 30.   

The House was told some passengers checked in at the airport with their connecting flight tickets but were told their names were not on the passenger list.

MP Piveni Piukala said these passengers lost the money they paid for their tickets just because their original flight had been cancelled.

“Who is responsible for this”, he asked in Parliament.

He accused the Airlines of lack of flexibility and said it should have a clear policy in place for its flight changes and passenger refunds.  

Meanwhile, a lawyer and former MP Sunia Manu Fili said Lulutai airlines was the poorest service ever in the kingdom.

“Ko e maulalo taha eni he fakahoko fatongia ki he fepunaaki ko e kautaha lulutai, ikai ha poto pe taukei”, he said on Facebook in Tongan.

He accused the national airline of lacking experience and skills.

A prominent businesswoman who operates a number of guest houses in Vava’u and Tongatapu described the conditions of the poor services as “five steps forward and six backwards”

Yvette Guttenbeil Paea said: “Feel sorry for my guests coming all the way from USA to visit Vava’u .. cannot book their flight online and on arrival, cannot get a seat as there was no flight the other day to Vavau .. waited the next day at airport, still cannot get a seat. Such is the norm nowadays”.

Reported Covid-19 cases top 8000 today for first time in country’s third wave

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘Oku ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

Daily Covid-19 numbers are the highest they have been for four and a half months, at 8428.

It is the first time the reported cases have breached 8000 in the country’s third wave.

The Ministry of Health said the virus was also increasing in wastewater and only about 44 percent of actual cases were being reported.

The wave would likely keep rising but a peak was difficult to predict because there were several variants in the community, and it was not known how much of a role previous infection was having on immunity, the ministry said.

The greater Wellington region had the highest rate of reported infection at 205 per 100,000 people, with Nelson Marlborough the lowest at 110.

Last week, there were 589 people hospitalised – a jump of 142 on the week before.

The number of people dying from, or with, the virus had declined slightly.

Death and hospitalisation rates tended to lag slightly behind the trend for community cases.

This week’s Covid Insights report from the ministry did not have an update on the variant mix, but the last reported figures showed BA.5, which had dominated for months, now made up fewer than half of all cases.

The rest were a mix of five other variants.

Tuesdays usually had the highest cases numbers of the week, because of a lag in weekend reporting.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e toko valuafe fāngeau uofulu mā valu ‘a e toko lahi taha kuo a’u ki ai ‘a e toko lahi ‘o e Kōviti -19 ‘i he māhina ko ‘eni ‘e fā mo e konga.
Ko e fuofua taimi ia ke lipooti mai ‘i Nu’usila kuo a’u ‘a e toko lahi ‘o e kau puke ‘i he Kōviti ki he toko valuafe, ‘i he’ene toe liu mai ko ‘eni hono tolu.
Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue Mo’ui ‘oku toe ‘alu ki ‘olunga ‘a e vailasi ‘i he vai ko ē ‘oku fou mai mei he ngaahi toileti pea ko e peseti pē ‘e fāngofulu mā fā kuo fakahā ange.  
Na’e fakahā ‘e he potungāue, ‘oku matamata ke ‘a’alu pē ki ‘olunga ‘a e toko lahi ka ‘oku ‘ikai faingata’a ke tala ‘a e fika ‘e a’u ki ai koe’uhi kuo lahi ‘a e kalasi kehekehe ‘o e vailasi ‘i he komiunitī, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ‘ilo ai ‘a e lahi ‘o e ngaahi uesia kimu’a ‘i he komiunitī.
Ko e vāhenga lahi ko ia ‘o Uelingatoni ‘a e ma’olunga taha kuo lipooti mei ai ‘a e kau puke, ko e toko 205 mei he kakai ‘e toko tahakilu [100.000] pea ko Nelsoni Malapolo ‘a e ma’olalo taha ko e toko teau hongofulu.
Na’e tākoto falemahaki ‘a e toko nimangeau valungofulu mā hiva [589] ‘i he ike kuo ‘osi, ko e ‘alu hake ia ‘a e toko lahi ‘aki ‘a e toko teau fāngofulu mā ua.
‘Oku holo ai pē ki lalo ‘a e kakai ‘oku tu’u ‘i he tu’unga fakatu’utāmaki.
‘Oku holo pē ki lalo ‘a e tu’unga ko ia ‘o e kau mate mo e tākoto falemahaki ‘i he kau puke ko ‘eni ‘i he komiunitī.
‘Oku ‘ikai foki ke ma’u ‘e potungāue hano tala fakamuimui ‘o e tūkunga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e kalasi kehekehe ‘o e vailasi, ‘i ha lau mahino mei he loto’i potungāue, ka ‘i he lau māhina ko e toko lahi na’e lipooti fakamuimui na’e hā ‘a e kei hoko ‘a e  B.A 5 tefito’i makatu’unga ia ‘o e puke.
‘Oku ‘i ai leva mo e ni’ihi ko epuke ia tupu mei he kalasi kehekehe.
Ko e ‘aho Tūsite na’e toko lahi taha ai ‘a e kau puke, koe’uhi he na’e holo ia ‘i he lipooti ‘o e faka’osinga ‘o e uike.

Car pulled from Tu’imatamoana wharf amid desperate Police search for missing man

By
Kaniva Staff
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A car had been pulled from the Tu’imatamoana wharf this morning amid a desperate police search for a missing man.

Police have yet to release any details.

The news came after the family of missing Tongatapu man Talanoa Leakona Lemoto hold grave fears for his safety after five days of anxious searching has failed to find him.

The 35-year-old teacher at Tonga College from Hala’ovave disappeared on Wednesday 7 and despite a number of promising leads, searchers have failed to track him down.

His wife, Malia Maketalena Pomana, said on Facebook the family are gravely concerned for his safety.

She said she was heart-breaking and couldn’t sleep well.

“I will never give up searching for you Noa no matter what”, she said in Tongan.

“It’s night now and you’re still not home. I keep calling your number eventhough it’s off, thinking it will eventually ring. Today it was a lot for all of us however, the outpour of prayers from everyone has gotten us through it”.

She said the family appreciate all the prayers and support from the public.

As Kaniva News reported last week, Lemoto was attending a school function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.

More than 180 Tongans successful in NZ Pacific immigration ballot

By
Kaniva Staff
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A total of 185 principal Tongan applicants were successful in the New Zealand government’s Pacific immigration quota ballot for 2022, New Zealand Immigration said today.

The 2022 Pacific Access Category ballot draw took place on 7 December 2022.

INZ said If an applicant’s “number is listed we will contact you with information about how to apply for residence in New Zealand”.

Applicant which registration number is not listed their number was not drawn, and they cannot apply for New Zealand residence under the 2022 Pacific Access Category.

INZ said applicants who had been unsuccessful can register again to enter the ballot in 2023 when registrations for the Pacific Access Category reopens.

The Tongan successful registration numbers are now available as follows:

212635262134086021384304
212645762134089121386100
212646442134961821386101
212654732135128921386109
212656562135146721386164
212666042135155021387000
212671452135159621387072
212696362135243021387155
212701472135244621387274
212704432135316921387306
212710272135324921387311
212721722135408321387592
212731192135477521387607
212763242135684421387625
212776552135768721387636
212776712135987321387697
212800782135990821387747
212815812136319421388217
212817152136702721388417
212829482136703221388550
212833062136720521389234
212855952136731021389479
212857052136746121389524
212868862136828221389583
212869812136933721389594
212873082136970421389620
212874322137083921390391
212880112137110621390401
212881292137166021390454
212903952137182621390516
212912622137200921390528
212918402137201221390557
212939992137223021390659
212951262137227121391341
212957972137233121391553
212972722137364721391591
212975052137475521391597
213011732137493221391633
213061182137506521391685
213075172137514321391785
213090152137772621391822
213104612137810021391824
213126772137931021391836
213126942137933121392748
213143052137966521392844
213143322137994121392862
213147622138013421392931
213171552138120421393002
213241062138167821393119
213242662138173621393135
213245772138261721393153
213248962138274421393199
213268972138277721393212
213271392138288921393292
213271602138417921393331
213278162138420221393405
213287912138422521393410
213293352138423121393465
213312942138423821393488
213314972138424421393490
213343852138429421415149
2134058221384299 

Covid-19 update: 40,098 new cases, 35 deaths and 514 hospitalised over past week

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘OKU TAUPOTU ‘I LALO HA FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

There have been 40,098 new cases of Covid-19 and 35 deaths of people with the virus over the past week, the Ministry of Health says.

There were also a total of 514 people in hospital with the virus, including 14 in ICU.

Of the 35 deaths being reported today, one was from Northland, 12 were from the Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, one was from MidCentral, three were from Wellington region, one was from Nelson Marlborough, six were from Canterbury and five were from Southern.

One was in their 40s, four were in their 50s, three were in their 60s, three were in their 70s, 15 were in their 80s and nine were aged over 90. Of these people, 15 were women and 20 were men.

Of the community cases, 11,142 are reinfections.

The seven day rolling average of cases is 5721.

On Wednesday, reported daily Covid-19 cases topped 7000 for the first time since July.

Last week the ministry reported 34,528 new cases of Covid-19 and 40 deaths of people with the virus over the previous week.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Kuo ‘i ai ha keisi fo’ou  ‘e 40,098 mo ha mate ‘e 35 ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi mei he Koviti lau ia ‘a e Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a Nu’u Sila ni.

Na’e ‘i ai mo e toko 514 i fale mahaki kau AI ‘a e toko 14 he ICU

Ko e toko 35 e kau mate ne lipooti ia he ‘aho ni taha ‘i Northland, 12 he vahenga ‘Aokalani fa mei Waikato, taha mei he Bay of Plenty, taha mei he Lakes, taha mei he  MidCentral, tolu mei he vahenga Uelingatoni taha mei Nelson mo Marlborough, ono mei Canterbury pea nima mei he saute.  

Toko taha ne ‘i hono ta’u 40t, fa ‘i he 50t, tolu ‘i he 60t, tolu ‘i he 70t pea toko 15 ‘i he 80t pea toko hiva ‘i he 90t. I he kakai ko eni ko e toko 15 kakai fefine pea 20 ko e kakai tangata.

Ko e ngaahi keisi ko eni mei he kominitii’ ko e toko 11,142 ko e kau toe puke.

Koe ‘avalisi ‘ene vilo mai ‘i he uike ko e toko  5721.

I he ‘aho Pulelulu, na’e lipooti ai ha keisi faka’aho a’u ki he toko 7000 ‘a ia ko e ‘uluaki taimi ia talu mei Siulai.

I he uike kuo ‘osi ne lipooti ‘e he Potungaue ha toko 34, 528 ko e keisi fo’ou ia ‘o e Koviti pea mate ai ha toko 40 ne ma’u ‘e vailasi mei he uike ki mu’a.

Family fears grow for missing Tongatapu man

By
Kaniva Staff
-

UPDATED: The family of missing Tongatapu man Talanoa Leakona Lemoto hold grave fears for his safety after five days of anxious searching has failed to find him.

The 35-year-old teacher at Tonga College from Hala’ovave disappeared on Wednesday 7 and despite a number of promising leads, searchers have failed to track him down.

His wife, Malia Maketalena Pomana, said on Facebook the family are gravely concerned for his safety.

She said she was heart-breaking and couldn’t sleep well.

“I will never give up searching for you Noa no matter what”, she said in Tongan.

“It’s night now and you’re still not home. I keep calling your number eventhough it’s off, thinking it will eventually ring. Today it was a lot for all of us however, the outpour of prayers from everyone has gotten us through it”.

She said the family appreciate all the prayers and support from the public.

As Kaniva News reported last week, Lemoto was attending a school function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.

Tonga Police said Lemoto was later spotted at Naudi Ruby night club apparently after the school function.

The family have posted a picture of an orange Honda Fit car with number plate C24480 and asking the public to look out for it.

The Police said he was wearing a red collar t-shirt with the name ‘Atele on it and a grey colour tupenu.

The police are actively searching for Lemoto with the help of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

Tonga, Australia sign new agreement

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Hu’akavameiliku government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australia.

The MOU was signed between Australia’s Minister for Defence, Pat Conroy, and Tonga’s Foreign Minister Fekita Utoikamanu on December 9.

It comprised agreements to support Tonga’s budget, aviation, and seasonal workers.

Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to welcome Minister Conroy to Tonga, the third Australian Minister to visit since June of this year. I am proud to announce that during this visit, Tonga and Australia signed two new arrangements to further strengthen our partnership”.

The agreement includes a Direct Funding Arrangement for AUD30 million in additional budget support to Tonga in 2022-23 to support Tonga’s economic recovery from compounding shocks, including COVID-19, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai disaster and more recent global inflationary pressures.

The two countries also agreed to a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Memorandum of Understanding that renews the joint commitment to implement the PALM scheme to support the economic development of Tonga and builds skills for Tongan workers when they return home.

A third arrangement, an aviation Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for Tonga Civil Aviation Division to work more closely with Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) across technical, regulatory, and other areas of support was also announced.

Minister Conroy said he was honoured to make his first visit to Tonga as Minister for International Development and the Pacific. He remarked:

“Australia and Tonga share a long and enduring bond of friendship. Australia always has been and always will support Tonga through good times and bad, just as the people of Tonga have done for us.

Australia is committed to supporting Tonga on its journey back to economic strength after recent crises and shocks. I am pleased Australia is providing additional budget support of AUD30 million to help the Government of Tonga’s economic recovery and the resilience of its people.

Missing Tongatapu man’s family shares vehicle picture in hope it will help find him

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A missing man’s family have shared a picture of a car they said he was driving to a function before he went missing.

The car Lemoto was driving before he went missing

Talanoa Leakona Lemoto was attending a school function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.

Tonga Police said Lemoto was later spotted at Naudi Ruby night club apparently after the school function.

The family have posted a picture of an orange Honda Fit car with number plate C24480 and asking the public to look out for it.

Police said he was wearing a red collar T-shirt with the name ‘Atele on it and a grey colour tupenu.

Tonga police also said they are actively searching for Lemoto.

Talanoa Leakona Lemoto

Reporting the incident on social media Lemoto’s familys said: “It is really out of character that he isn’t home yet and we are asking for any information to help us find his whereabouts”

This morning December 10, the family’s social media updates show they were still searching for their son.

“Come back home Lemoto”, one post says.

The family said they kept calling him on his mobile phone, but it was off.

Anyone with information on Lemoto’s whereabouts is asked to call 8739727 or 7798448.

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