From Sliced Fish to Starlink to Cash to Tonga’s Court of Appeals.

On the 29^th June 2026, Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister stepped down from his seat after the Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the Supreme Court on his case of breaching the electoral laws when he bribed a voter with $150.00.

Similarly, here in Tonga, three members of the parliament have been convicted of the same – bribing during the three months prohibited period of the parliament elections. Lata’ifaingata’a Tangimana (Niua 17) – former Minister of Finance, Semisi Sika (Ttp 2) – former Tourism and Infrastructure Minister and Taniela Fusimalohi (‘Eua 11) – former Minister of Lands have all submitted an appeal to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has set a session to hear these appeals commencing on the 7^th July to the 10^th July 2026. Included in these hearings are Tukunga vs Toumo’ua (Ttp 9) and Lavulavu vs Latu (Vv 16). These hearings will begin with Tangimana vs Finau on Tuesday 7^th June, followed by Tukunga vs Toumo’ua on Wednesday 8^th, Sika vs Fasi on Thursday 9^th, and Lavulavu vs Latu / Lavemaau vs Fusimalohi on Friday 10^th.

Hopefully that after these court matters are settled, the Fakafanua government will find a more stabilized footing in their operation.