Tonga is facing growing political problems after three of its cabinet members were found guilty of election bribery. The cases are linked to the 2025 general election. That election created a coalition government made up of independent members and appointed nobles in Tonga’s parliament.
This week, the Supreme Court found Lands Minister Dr Taniela Fusimalohi guilty of an electoral offence. The case revolved around a Starlink internet device that he distributed to individuals in his electorate. The equipment provided high-speed internet access. The court ruled that the donation broke election rules.
Full details of the judgement have not yet been released. However, the ruling shows that Tonga’s courts are taking election laws seriously. Under Tongan law, people convicted of election offences can face penalties. These penalties may involve fines, the loss of their parliamentary seat, or a ban on holding public office.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Latu was cleared of similar accusations. He had been accused of distributing election-related material during the campaign period. Fourteen allegations were originally filed against him. The court accepted only six of them for review and dismissed all six due to a lack of evidence.
Tourism Minister Semisi Sika was also found guilty. Prosecutors argued that a payment of $10,000 made to a dance academy was intended to influence voters. The court agreed with that argument.
Finance Minister Lata’ifaingata’a Tangimana became the first cabinet member convicted in these cases. He was found guilty of indirectly bribing voters by providing fish to people in his constituency. He resigned from his ministerial position in April but remains a member of parliament while appealing the decision.
His case was brought by a rival election candidate who challenged the result. That challenge later led to investigations involving other ministers. Three charges were originally filed against him, but one was dropped because an important witness could not attend court.
These rulings have increased pressure on Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua and his government. If the convictions stand, some ministers could lose their seats. This could force by-elections and lead to major changes in the cabinet.
Lord Fakafanua became prime minister after the last election. He is a member of Tonga’s royal family and only the second noble to hold the position since constitutional reforms were introduced.
Tongan election laws are strict. Donations made close to an election can be treated as bribery, even when they are presented as charitable acts. The government has not yet issued a detailed response to the recent court decisions. Similar bribery cases involving ministers were also recorded after the 2021 election. In previous years, such rulings led to the dismissal of ministers and members of parliament.
