US fugitive

US citizen Dean Jay Fletcher, 54, was being imprisoned in Pago Pago for illegally entering and leaving the country without permits.

He escaped a prison cell in Tonga while facing a murder charge in connection to the death of his Canadian wife Patricia Linne Kearney on July 6 in Neiafu, Vava’u.

The body of the 56-year-old was found dead in the yacht she and Fletcher owned before she was buried at ‘Ahomatafolau Cemetery in Neiafu on July 29.

It has been alleged Fletcher regularly called someone in Tonga from Samoa using a guard’s cell phone.

Dean Jay Fletcher was charged with unlawfully entering Pago Pago after he escaped custody in Tonga two weeks ago.

Mr Fletcher is accused of the murder of his wife.

RNZ reports Tonga and the United States are party to an extradition treaty that also includes American Samoa, a US territory.

Tonga's deputy Police Commissioner Pele-natita Fe'ao said extradition proceedings have begun to return Mr Fletcher to face a pre-trial on the 26th of October.

Last week the Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva warned the country was a playground for criminals and proposed a committee be formed to investigate Police.

RNZ reports the Police Minister Pohiva Tu'ionetoa said people are worried about a number of recent escapes from police custody, including an American man suspected of murder.

Mr Tu'ionetoa said this brings the commissioner, New Zealand Police Superintendent Steve Caldwell, into the spotlight.

Fletcher is charged with murder and it’s alleged he murdered his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney at Neiafu, Vava’u a few months ago.

The AG’s Office said after being informed by the Police Commissioner that the Accused had absconded from Tonga, and arrived at American Samoa, the Office made immediate contact on 4 October 2016 with counterparts at the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., USA, and American Samoa, in order to commence an extradition process with a view to return the Accused to the Kingdom to be tried for the charges laid against him.

RNZ reports Dean Jay Fletcher was arrested after being identified as the man who had fled from a jail in Vava'u last week.

Mr Fletcher was found to have entered the port without proper documents and without a yellow flag or any proof of clearance form the last port.

While in court the defendant tried talking straight to the District Court Judge Fiti Sunia but was stopped and told to get a lawyer.

Judge Sunia has denied bail because the defendant is alleged to be involved a murder case.

A pre-trial is set for 26th October.

Dean Jay Fletcher, 54, was facing charges in Tonga in connection with the death of his Canadian wife in June.

Kaniva News reports he was arrested in Pago Pago yesterday.

Meanwhile a team of investigators from Tongatapu have arrived in Vavaʻu to investigate the circumstances surrounding the escape of Fletcher.

“I have obvious concerns over this matter and people will be held to account if accepted procedures have not been followed” says Commissioner Steve Caldwell in a statement from Police.