A fisherman had been taken out to sea before spending about a day swimming before arriving at the island of Monotapu, reports said. 

The victim was rescued by some good Samaritans who heard him calling for help.

A photo shared on Facebook shows what appeared to be the good Samaritans’ boat and the victim, swathed in blanket, sitting there.

The photo also shows three other people sitting on the top of the vessel.  

Reports alleged the ordeal began when the man set off on a fishing trip with his wife with the intention of returning the following day.    

But things took a turn for the worse when according to reports, the wife left in the boat leaving her husband behind.

Kaniva news was unable to independently verify various versions of stories being reported about the whereabout of the wife and their boat.

One report claimed an argument broke out between the couple before the wife left while the husband was diving.

Another report alleged that when the rescue boat arrived at the wharf in Nuku’alofa the wife was already there.

It is understood the incident has been reported to Police.

Authorities could not be reached for comment.

Customers of some money and shopping transfer outlets in Tonga have expressed frustrations after waiting for long periods and experiencing delays in receiving money or goods from overseas.

Some Mother’s Day shoppers in Nuku’alofa alleged their money has been sent from overseas, but one outlet in particular claimed it has yet to receive it.

Videos posted to Facebook since yesterday appeared to show people queueing outside LWS Trading.

LWS Trading could not be reached for comment, and we were unable to independently verify whether it has link to the complainants or not.

The video also showed what appeared to be outrageous customers trying to find some shade under nearby trees and power poles outside the outlet while waiting for their money and shopping.

A raft of complaints shared on Facebook included clients who claimed they were told by the outlet a staff was at the bank to withdraw their money. The clients said they had to return home due to long waiting hours with no sign of the staff before they left.

Some complainants on a Tongan Facebook group alleged they were sent money from their families overseas on Monday and Tuesday but the outlet kept telling them up to Friday it has yet to receive it.

It appeared the hardest hit complainants were those who left their online shopping and money transfer until last minute.

Some good Samaritans offered supports and advised complainants to look for reputable money transfer companies such as MoneyGram and Western Union to minimise the risk of any delivery issues.

The Supreme Court has found former Cabinet Minister Etuate Lavulavu guilty of contempt of court.

He has been fined TP$15,000 and ordered to remove the offending material from the internet.

Lavulavu and his wife were convicted on charges of financial irregularities surrounding an educational institution they ran. The Court of Appeal quashed the convictions and sentences in October 2022. The trial attracted much media attention.

The court was told that VPON Media and Broadcasting ran a total of 10 programmes of interviews with Lavulavu to discuss the case. The programmes were live streamed via Facebook and YouTube.

In his summary of the trial, dated May 8, Acting Lord Chief Justice Tupou said that during a live streamed program on October  26, 2022, the Defendant, in response to a question from the interviewer, said:

“Yes I believe that is what happened and it was not just me who saw them. I was very surprised ……. But they are political figures, two of them and others who are higher level than the Judge …. I really felt that he believed these people who were trying to mislead him from the side and that’s where the truth was lost … “

It was determined that there was a prima facie case of contempt against Lavulavu for the statement, which imputed that the trial Judge’s decision was influenced by political figures and persons of high rank.

The prosecution said the statement struck at the core function of a Judge and his oath to perform truly and with impartiality, his duties as a Judge. The statement had been widely published in Tonga and abroad.

Lavulavu had maintained his not guilty plea throughout the proceedings and the statement had severely affected the judiciary and undermined public confidence in the administration of justice in Tonga.

Judge Tupou said allegations that a Judge was partial or biased were calculated to bring that Judge into contempt and had been considered by this court as serious because they undermined confidence in the basic function of a Judge.

“Advanced technology has made the creation and publishing of content by any person at any time widely accessible and at very little to no cost,” the judge said.

“Such advancements, when used safely, of course benefits society. Similarly, its user friendly nature makes it susceptible to misuse and/or abuse. And when used in the latter, damage to individual’s rights, privacy, reputation and institutions such as the courts in this case is at the click of a button to an infinite audience. It is disappointing that the offending programme is still up and available on YouTube.”

The judge said the incident of contempt was a direct allegation of bias against the trial judge. “Bias, if proven, may fall under judicial misconduct,” she said.

“The allegation is that serious. It seeks to question the credibility of His Honour’s decision not only on this matter but potentially to all other matters on which he presides. In a small jurisdiction, where the Supreme Court bench consists of three judges, the damage inflicted on the administration of justice is critical.”

Lavulavu  was fined TP$15,000 to be paid within four weeks. The court ordered that if he failed to pay the fine within the specified time he would be jailed for a fortnight.

Judge Tupou said the offending programme must be removed immediately. Lavulavu was to file a memorandum with the court confirming its removal within seven days from sentencing.

A bank teller working at Tonga Development Bank (TDB) branch on Vava‘u has been sentenced  after embezzling $$72,857.60 from a church account.

‘Eva ‘Ailolo also known as ‘Eva ‘I Pomana Tau’ese, 28, stole from an account held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ (LDS) Wards of Ha’alaufuli, Ta’anea and Holeva.

She was caught after Duran Ormond, a manager of the LDS, Pacific Division based in Utah, USA, spotted a problem with the account, prompting an investigation.

The enquiry was in relation to cash deposits expected to be made into LDS Church account number l50325-S40.  

The unaccounted amount was $3,765.00 deposited on 28 December 2021, $1,580.40 on 5 September 2022, $4,260 on 3 October 2022, and $345 on 28 October 2022 at the TDB Vava’u Branch.

These deposits were cash from Sunday church tithe offerings collects by the LDS Church Wards of Ha’alaufuli, Ta’anea and Holeva.

The TDB head office investigated the matter and they realised they could not locate their copies of the receipts for the said deposits.

Upon internal investigation it was established ‘Ailolo was responsible for the missing money.

‘Ailolo wrote letters to her supervisors to apologise including one which to inform them that she wrongfully kept the receipts for the cash deposits she received, and she did not post the funds into these accounts. She kept this from everyone because she was scared but never attempted to destroy the receipts.

However, she alleged during her cross-examination that some contents of her letter of 2 December 2023 are false.

She showed no remorse for her action which is indicated by her not guilty plea and her allegation that her letters of apologies to TDB were coerced by TDB officer Kolokesa Paunga.

‘Ailolo has not repaid any of the aforesaid amount to the bank or customers.

As mitigating factors, Justice Langi considered ‘Ailolo’s no previous conviction. She is young and if given a second chance would take it towards rehabilitation.

Mrs Langi said the offending was out of character for she was a trustworthy employee at her current employment.

On the count of embezzlement ‘Ailolo was convicted and sentenced to one year and nine months imprisonment.

The final twelve months is suspended for two years on the following conditions:

1. She is not to commit any further offences punishable by imprisonment for a period of 2 years.

The accused is to serve nine months of imprisonment.

A letter showing that an airline operator was interested in taking over local flight services, despite the Prime Minister claiming no operator was interested, can now be revealed.  

The Fly Niu airlines expression of interest letter dated January 18, 2023 was adressed to the Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. It provided the government with a three-part offer.

The  revelation came after Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku appeared to be responding to the king’s concerns the previous day questioning the Government’s managing the airline in “secrecy” and failing to recruit experts in civil aviation to assist with the controversial national airlines.  

The revelation comes after Lulutai CEO Poasi Tei confirmed to Kaniva News earlier this week he has been in contact with the former domestic airline operator Air Chathams in an attempt to lease an aircraft from its fleet.

We understand Lulutai airlines is in desperate needs of more aeroplanes after its largest aircraft, the Saab 340B, crashed in December. Air Chathams has two of the Swedish-built airliners in its fleet.

Fly Niu CEO ‘Atu Finau told Kaniva News he made contact with Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku after sending him the letter last year and he was still awaiting a response.

The expression of interest said  Fly Niu would firstly provide a six to 12 month Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) back up aircraft lease.

“The minimum utilisation capacity for this lease aircraft [would be] three daily TBU/VAV/TBU (Fua’amotu International airport/Vava’u/Fua’amatu) trips”, the letter said.

It would follow with a 12- month management contract for Fly Niu to restructure and operate the airline to ensure Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) compliance, scheduled aircraft maintennce programme and the airlines long-term vialbility.

The third part of the offer was to have an agreed price to purchase an agreed percentage of the airline’s shares within 12 months from the commencment of the management contract.

The Prime Minister has been contacted for comment.

Fly Niu airline was forced out of Tonga 20 years ago when the government passed a one airline policy that gave the sole right to operate domestic flights to Peau Vava’u, an airline co-owned by the Late King George Tupou V and his business partners, the Ramanlal brothers. It replaced the bankrupt Royal Tongan Airlines.

Peau Vava’u flew from mid-2004 to the end of 2006 when its offices were destroyed in a fire.

Chatham negotiations

The Tongan government’s recent attemtping to restore its bitter relationship with Air Chathams appears to show Lulutai’s desperation for planes to meet its services demands.

Lulutai CEO Poasi Tei told Kaniva News he was trying to get planes leased from Chathams because of the upcoming peak season for the flight services.

We understand Tei has also been in contact with other avaition experts, including Finau, in his attempt to get more planes for Lulutai. The airlines is now operating with two small aircraft, its new 18 seater Twin Otter and the Y12 plane, which, as reported by Kaniva News, has experienced a number of mechanical issues.

Air Chathams operated Tonga’s sole domestic airline under the name Chathams Pacific, but pulled out in 2011 after the Tongan government decided to set up its own airline in partnership with Real Tonga airlines.

Air Chathams was not happy with the decision and announced that it was closing its doors.

Chatham’s owner, Craig Emeny expressed his disappointment following an announcement by Samiu Vaipulu, who was then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Aviation, that  a new Chinese MA 60 aircraft would arrive in Tonga as part of the government’s plan to set up a new airline to compete with Air Chatham.

Emeny said at the time he was concerned that “Tonga simply is not large enough to support two airlines”.

He also said Hon. Vaipulu, who is now one of the directors of Lulutai airlines, “did not include or consider my airline in anyway”.

“I am not able to maintain financially viability in the Tonga market with the introduction of another airline operating a 50 seat (MA-60) and a 17 seat (Y12) aircraft in competition to me,” he said.

Air Vanuatu

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific, another national carrier, Air Vanuatu, has cancelled all its international flights. It is understood the airline has been trying to service all of its international flights with one aircraft – a Boeing 737 – which is reported to have had mechanical problems..

According to RNZ, the Vanuatu government is considering putting the airline into administration. Hundreds of passengers, many from New Zealand and Australia, have been stranded. Earlier reports suggested the airline was facing bankruptcy.