Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke has confirmed that an investigation is underway into allegations that Police Minister Piveni Piukala may have interfered with a court order preventing a Mormon leader from leaving Tonga.
Minister Piveni Piukala with Pita Hopoate and an unidentified woman.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Customs Minister Māteni Tapueluelu has alleged that Piukala directed airport staff to release Pita Foliaki Hopoate on a flight to the US without legal authority.
Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke appears to be distancing himself from suspending Piukala, asserting that the matter must wait until the police investigation is concluded.
Defending his actions online, Piukala said he felt compelled to help Hopoate leave the country, stating he found it difficult to ignore his request and thought he had to act in his favour.
Eke said the case was referred to the Attorney General (AG) earlier this week, and a meeting was held yesterday, Friday 7 November, between the AG and the Public Prosecutor (PP) to clarify the legal process and determine the appropriate steps to be taken.
“This matter has attracted significant public attention,” Eke told Kaniva News.
“The Government considers it important to ensure transparency and uphold the rule of law.”
According to the Prime Minister, the AG and PP outlined a multi-step process for assessing the case:
The police will conduct an independent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the case. A meeting between the Public Prosecutor and Police Commissioner was held yesterday to discuss the matter and initiate formal instructions for the inquiry.
A timeline will be set for the investigation’s completion, after which a report will be submitted to the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor. This report will determine whether any laws were breached.
Following the investigation, the Attorney General will proceed with legal action based on the findings.
Eke said if a breach of law is confirmed, the case will be referred to the judiciary for further proceedings.
“The date and time of any court hearings will be determined by the court’s schedule”, he said.
“At this stage, however, there is no legal basis for punishing Minister Piukala. All procedural steps must be completed before any legal decision can be made.”
The Prime Minister reiterated that under Tonga’s Constitution and laws, every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
He also noted that similar cases involving ministers in previous governments were handled using the same legal process now being applied.
“This is the current status of the Government’s handling of the case,” Eke said.
