5 Jun 2013

Tonga court to clarify payout to nobles

1:38 pm on 5 June 2013

A Tonga parliamentarian is seeking a judicial review of payouts to three nobles amounting to more than 1.7 million US dollars.

Matangi Tonga reports that People's Representative, Sione Taione, is asking the Supreme Court to make a ruling on the legality of lease payments authorised by the government to three royal estate holders for land around the international airport at Fu'amotu.

He says the money was paid to Lord Kalaniuvalu, Prince Tu'ipelehake and Prince Tungi.

Mr Taione's efforts to have parliament debate whether the payments were legal were unsuccessful.