Internal Affairs Minister

Mrs Lavulavu and her husband were arrested and charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and three counts of obtaining credit by false pretences.

She was then dismissed by Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva after she refused to resign.

Ms Ma'asi is a former senior civil servant and CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture who unseated former finance minister, 'Aisake Eke, during last year's election.

Ms Ma'asi and Mrs Lavulavu were the only two women elected during the vote.

The charges are three counts for obtaining by false pretences, contrary to section 164 of the Criminal Offences Act and three counts of knowingly dealing with forged documents, contrary to section 172 of the Criminal Offences Act.

Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said the charges relate to a referral made to Tonga Police by the Auditor General over a number of irregularities in an audit of ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.

According to a Kaniva News report, the institute was set up in 2004 by former politician and Minister for Infrastructure, Etuate Lavulavu.