Police Investigate ‘Unuaki ‘O Tonga Royal Institute

Police are currently investigating the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute for the alleged use of false information for their own benefit.

This came after report from the Auditor General proposing a legal probe into the issues identified while auditing the TVET – funding for Tonga’s Vocational and Technical Institutions which includes the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute.

TVET’s funding per head to the local institutions is TOP$600.

The Auditor General therefore believed that the institution provides false information regarding the students enrolled leading to overpayment made by TVET.

This includes 97 names that were provided as students but was later found out to be staff of the Restaurant owned by the owner of ‘Unuaki that was operated at the Tonga National Cultural Center in Tofoa, they also include names of the band, floorshow groups, those that have register and complete their enrollment forms but were never enrolled and never studied at the Institution.

This was from the period of 2014 – 2015.

Others were also registered as students of the Institutions without their knowledge.

The overpayment made to the Institution was to the tune of TOP$63,000.

Contacts were made to the Owner of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute but they were not found – however Radio Tonga News understands Lavulavu told other media last month that the allegations are NOT TRUE.

TVET’s aid is under the Ministry of Education and Training.

TVET’s funding is aid from donor partners including both the countries of Australia and NZ.