The Tongan government said a formal extradition request has been in process to American Samoa authority to have the US citizen suspected of murdering his wife in Vavaʻu brought back to Tonga.
Dean Jay Fletcher, 54, was facing charges in Tonga in connection with the death of his Canadian wife in June.
He was arrested in Pago Pago this morning.
Meanwhile a team of investigators from Tongatapu have arrived in Vavaʻu today 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.
“As a result of Tonga Police casting their net wide, by utilizing international police networks, and good work by America Samoan authorities, escaped prisoner Dean Jay Fletcher has been located in Pago Pago, American Samoa this morning (04/10/16)”.
“Fletcher has been arrested by local authorities and extradition proceedings have been commenced by Attorney General’s Office, Tonga and Attorney General’s Office, American Samoa and U.S. Department of Justice”.
“Commissioner Steve Caldwell also said that he had sent a team of Senior Police Officers to Vava’u today (04/10/16), to investigate the full circumstances of the escape”.
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