“Prime Minister’s Office Upholds Due Process Following Police Report.”

GOVERNMENT OF TONGA
MEDIA RELEASE

(25 February, 2026)

Nuku’alofa, Tonga – The Ministry of Police confirmed to the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday 20 February 2026, that an employee, together with three other individuals, was arrested in relation to the possession of illicit drug utensils. The Office was further advised that the investigation remains ongoing and that a report will be provided in due course.

The Prime Minister’s Office has taken immediate administrative action and formally referred the matter to the Public Service Commission, as a serious breach of discipline, in accordance with the Public Service (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations. The Office will continue to observe and comply with all due process requirements.

The Prime Minister’s Office reaffirms its unwavering commitment to integrity, ethical conduct, and full compliance with the laws of the Kingdom of Tonga, including adherence to the Code of Conduct and relevant provisions of the Public Service Regulations. The conduct under investigation is inconsistent with the standards expected of public officials and does not reflect the values upheld by the Prime Minister’s Office or the Government of Tonga. The Office will continue to ensure that all employees maintain the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and transparency, and will take all appropriate measures necessary to uphold public confidence and trust in government institutions.

• ENDS –

PULEʻANGA TONGA
ONGOONGO TUKUATU

(‘Aho 25 ʻo Fepueli, 2026)

“Muimui ʻa e ʻOfisi ʻo e Palemia ki he Founga Ngaue, hili ʻa e Lipooti ʻa e Potungāue Polisi.”

Nukuʻalofa, Tonga – Naʻe fakapapauʻi mei he Potungāue Polisi ki he ʻOfisi ʻo e Palemia ʻi he ʻaho Falaite, 20 ʻo Fepueli, 2026, ko e tokotaha ngaue, fakataha mo e toko tolu kehe, naʻe puke kinautolu ʻe he kau Polisi, ki hono maʻu mo e ngaahi naunau ʻoku ngaueʻaki ki he faitoʻo taʻe fakalao. Naʻe faleʻi ki he ʻOfisi ʻoku kei hokohoko atu ʻa e ngaue fakatotolo, pea ʻe toki lipooti mai haʻane maau ʻa e ngaue kiai.

Naʻe fakahoko ai pe ʻe he ʻOfisi ʻo e Palemia ʻa hono fakahoko ʻo e lipooti ʻi he founga ngaue, ʻo e tokotaha ngaue ni ki he Komisoni ʻo e Kau Ngaue Fakapuleʻanga, ko e maumau tuʻutuʻuni lahi, ʻo fakatatau ki he Ngaahi Tuʻutuʻuni (Ngaahi Founga Tautea) ki he Ngaue Fakapuleʻanga. ʻE muimui mo tauhi ʻa e ʻOfisi, ki he ngaahi founga ngaue kuo tuʻutuʻuni, ke fakakakato.

ʻOku fakapapauʻi ʻe he ʻOfisi Palemia ʻa e pau ke tauhi ki he totonu, tau mo e faipau ki he ngaahi Lao ʻo Tonga, kau ai ʻa e muimui pau ki he Tuʻutuʻuni Fakaʻulunganga ki he Ngaue Fakapuleʻanga mo e ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻoku ʻomi ʻi he Ngaahi Tuʻutuʻuni ki he Ngaue Fakapuleʻanga. Ko e ʻulunganga ʻoku fakatotoloʻi, ʻoku ʻikai ke taau ia mo e tuʻunga fakaʻulunganga ʻoku totonu ke maʻu ʻe he kau ʻofisa ngaue fakapuleʻanga, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke ne fakahaaʻi ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga fakaʻulunganga mahuʻinga ʻoku poupouʻi ʻe he ʻOfisi ʻo e Palemia pe ko e Puleʻanga Tonga. ʻE hokohoko atu hono fakapapauʻi ʻe he ʻOfisi, ʻoku tauhi ʻe he kau ngaue kotoa ʻa e tuʻunga maolunga fakapolofesinale, taliui mo e ʻata kitā, pea ʻe fakahoko ʻa e ngaue ʻoku totonu ke fai, ke fakapapauʻi ʻa e falala mo e tui ʻa e kakai ki he ngaahi potungāue ʻa e puleʻanga.

• NGATAʻANGA –