The Anti–Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Board of Directors of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) are currently involved in litigation. On 20 May 2025, the NRBT submitted Application to strike out the ACC’s Statement of Claim or in the alternative parts of it concerning the extent of the ACC’s powers according to the provisions of the ACC Act.
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The NRBT challenges the proceedings on the basis that the ACC had no power to have documents produced under coercion on the understanding that they were required for an investigation by the ACC when the ACC without warning decided to seek judicial review using the documents produced by coercion.
On 30 June 2025 the Supreme Court issued a ruling where it refused the NRBT application.
The refusal of the application is the first time that there has been any decision under the Anti-Corruption Commissioner Act by any Court in Tonga. The NRBT as it is entitled to, will seek leave to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal of Tonga.
Background to the Court Proceedings
The ACC brought a Judicial Review against the NRBT regarding a decision to pay out an award to the Bank’s staff in recognition of their work and commitment, in marking the Bank’s 35th anniversary in September 2024. This award of $5,000 for each staff of the Bank, regardless of rank, did not include the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors’ decision was confirmed by legal counsel.
Tu’utu’uni ‘a e Fakamaau’anga: ‘Ikai ke tali kole ‘a e Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ‘a Tongaˊ ke fakata’e’aonga’i e ngaahi fokotu’u ‘a e Komisiona ki he Fakafepaki’i ‘o e Ta’efaitotonu
‘Oku lolotonga fakahoko ‘a e fakatonutonu ‘i he vā ‘o e Komisiona ki hono Fakafepaki’i ‘o e Ta’efaitotonuˊ (ACC) mo e Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ‘a Tongaˊ. ‘I he ‘aho 20 ‘o Mē 2025, na’e fakahū atu ‘e he Pangikē Puleˊ ki he Fakamaau’anga Lahiˊ ‘a e kole ke fakata’e’aonga’i ‘a e ‘eke fokotu’u ‘a e ACC ki he Fakamaau’angaˊ pē ko e konga ‘o e ‘eke ko eni makatu’unga eni ‘i he tu’unga fakalao ki hono ngaue’aki e mafai ‘o e ACC ‘i he malumalu ‘o e Lao ki he Komisiona ki he Fakafepaki’i ‘o e Ta’efaitotonuˊ.
Na’e ‘eke’i ‘e he Pangikē Puleˊ ‘a e makatu’unga fakalao na’e fakahoko ‘aki ‘e he ACC ‘a ‘ene ‘eke faka-Fakamaau’angaˊ ‘o ngaue’aki e ngaahi fakamatala ne tu’utu’unia fakalao ke ne ma’u ki he’ene fakatotoloˊ, ‘oku fehu’ia ai ‘a hono ngaue’aki tau’ataina eni ‘e he ACC ki he hopo. Neongo e mafai ‘o e ACC ‘i he Laoˊ ke ne ma’u mai ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala ke fakahoko ‘aki ‘ene fakatotoloˊ, ka koe mafai ke ne fakahoko ‘aki ‘a ‘ene ‘eke faka-Fakamaau’angaˊ pea ‘ikai ke ne ‘uluaki fakahā eni ki he Pangikē Puleˊ ‘oku ‘eke fakalao.
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‘I he ‘aho 30 ‘o Sune 2025, na’e tuku mai ai e tu’utu’uni ‘a e Fakamaau’anga Lahiˊ ‘a ia ne ‘ikai te ne tali ‘a e kole ‘a e Pangikē Puleˊ.
Ko e fuofua taimi pea mo e tu’utu’uni eni ‘a e Fakamaau’angaˊ ‘i he Lao ki he Komisiona ki he Fakafepaki’i ‘o e Ta’efaitotonuˊ. ‘E ngāue’aki ‘ e he Pangikē Puleˊ ‘a ‘ene totonu ke kole ha ngofua ke fakahoko ha tangi ki he Fakamaau’anga Tangiˊ ke toe vakai’i ‘a e tu’utu’uni ‘a e Fakamaau Lahiˊ.
Puipuitu’a ki he Fakatonutonuˊ;
‘Oku makatu’unga ‘a e Fakatonutonu Fakalao (Judicial Review) ‘a e ACC mo e Pangikē Puleˊ mei hono ‘eke’i ‘e he ACC ‘a e tu’unga fakalao ‘o e tu’utu’uni ne fakahoko ‘e he Pangikē Puleˊ ‘i Sepitema 2024 ki hono fakamanatua ‘o e ta’u 35 ‘o e Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ‘a Tongaˊ na’e fakahoko ‘i he ‘aho 16 Sepitema 2024ˊ. Na’e tu’utu’uni ‘e he Poate ‘a e Pangikē Puleˊ ke kau ki hono faka’ilonga’i e katoanga ‘a e hounga’ia pea mo e fakamālō’ia e fakahoko fatongia ‘a e kau ngāue ‘a e Pangike Puleˊ ‘o a’u ki hono ta’u 35 lolotonga e ta’u fakapa’anga na’e ‘osi ki he 30 Sune 2025, ‘aki ‘a hono foaki ‘o e me’a’ofa taki $5000 ki he tokotaha ngāue lolotonga kotoa pē, ‘o tatau pē mei he ma’ulalo ki he ma’olunga.
Na’e ‘ikai ke kau ‘a e kau Talēkita ‘o e Poate ‘a e Pangikē Puleˊ ‘i he me’a’ofa ko eni ki he kau ngāueˊ pea na’e tali ‘a e tu’utu’uni ko eni kimu’a e katoanga hili hono fakapapau’i fakalao, ‘oku ‘atā fakalao ki he Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ‘a Tongaˊ ke fakahoko e tu’utu’uni ko eni.
Ki ha toe fakaikiiki, kataki 'o fetu’utaki mai ki he: Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ‘a Tonga ‘i he Telefoni: (676) 24 057; ‘Imeili:
