Tongasat’s appeal aimed at hindering attempts to sue former Prime Ministers, says Pōhiva

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said he believed an appeal by Tongasat against a Supreme Court ruling over the illegal payment of millions of dollars was an attempt to hinder attempts to sue those involved and to force Princess Pilolevu to pay back the money.

Parliament tabled a submission by the government early this month to sue ex Prime Ministers Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakanō for their involvement in the illegal payment of TP$90 million.

Hon. Pōhiva has revealed there was also a plan to lodge additional legal action to force Princess Pilolevu and Tongasat to pay back the money.

However, he said he had discussed this with his counsel, Dr Rodney Harrison, and there was concern that the money could not be recovered and it would be very hard to investigate it.

Hon. Pōhiva told Kaniva news in an exclusive interview on Monday in Auckland that Tongasat’s appeal would not change Lord Chief Justice Paulsen’s decision.

“They are free to appeal and that was part of the judicial process, but I don’t think it would affect the Supreme Court’s decision,” the Prime Minister said.

Hon. Pohiva said he had read the decision repeatedly and marvelled at how Judge Paulsen looked at all evidences and arguments before he declared that the payments of the money made by the government of Tonga to Tongasat was unlawful within the  meaning  of  the Public  Finance  Management  Act.

Tongasat, which is also known as The Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd. (Tongasat), filed a notice of appeal against the Supreme Court decision in August.

Its counsel, W.C.Edwards, then filed the appeal in the Court of Appeal of Tonga on 16 October.

The appellants said they had fresh evidence from witnesses, including former Ministers of Finance  Lord Matoto, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, Sunia Fili and former Chief Secretary to Cabinet ‘Aholotu Palu.

Declaration

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen issued a declaration on the legal status of the main points of the claims made in the court case in September.

He said the first tranche payment of US$24.45 million in aid  grant funds  received by the Kingdom from  the People’s Republic of China on  September 4, 2008 was a grant and therefore public money within the  meaning  of  the Public  Finance  Management  Act.

“Following its receipt by the Kingdom, US$20,985,667 of the first payment was paid to or for the benefit of Tongasat pursuant to a purported agreement between the then Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr Feleti Sevele  and Tongasat,” the judge said.

“The payment of US$20,985,667 of the first payment to or for the benefit of Tongasat was expended in breach of section 9 of the PFMA and accordingly unlawful and invalid.

“To the extent that the first payment was expended to satisfy pre-existing liabilities of Tongasat that expenditure was in breach of section 30 of the PFMA and accordingly unlawful and invalid.

“The purported agreement between the then Prime Minister and Tongasat  was in breach  of the PFMA and  in excess of  Dr Sevele’s lawful powers and authority as Prime Minister and accordingly unlawful  and invalid.

“Tongasat was not entitled to payment of the first payment or any part thereof under either the Agency Agreement or the Agency Termination Agreement.

“The second payment of US$25.450 million in aid grant funds received by the Kingdom from the People’s Republic of China on June 9, 2011 was a ‘grant’ and accordingly public money within the meaning of the PFMA.

“Following its receipt by the Kingdom, the second payment was paid in its entirety to or for the benefit of Tongasat pursuant to a purported agreement between the then Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr Feleti Sevele and Tongasat.

“The payment of the second payment in its entirety to or for the benefit of Tongasat was expended in breach of section 9 of the PFMA and accordingly unlawful and invalid.

“To the extent that the first payment was expended to satisfy pre-existing liabilities of Tongasat that expenditure was in breach of section 30 of the PFMA and accordingly unlawful and invalid.

“The purported agreement between the then Prime Minister and Tongasat  was both in breach of the PFMA  and  in excess of  Dr Sevele’ s lawful powers and authority as Prime Minister and accordingly unlawful and invalid.

“Tongasat was not entitled to payment of the second tranche payment or any part thereof under either the Agency Agreement or the Agency Termination Agreement.”

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said he believed an appeal by Tongasat against a Supreme Court ruling over the illegal payment of millions of dollars was an attempt to hinder attempts to sue those involved and to force Princess Pilolevu to pay back the money.
  • Parliament tabled a submission by the government early this month to sue ex Prime Ministers Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakano for their involvement in the illegal payment of TP$90 million.

For more information

Tonga Government decision to sue former PMs in Tongasat $39m illegal payments revealed

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