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The Honourable
ʻAkosita Havili Lavulavu
MLA
'Akosita Lavulavu in 2016
Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism
In office
10 October 2019 – 28 December 2021
Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Preceded by Semisi Sika
Succeeded by Sevenitini Toumoʻua (Infrastructure)
Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu (Tourism)
Minister for Internal Affairs, Women, Culture, Youth and Sports
In office
18 January 2018 – 11 April 2018
Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded by ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Succeeded by Losaline Ma'asi
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga for Vavaʻu 16
In office
16 July 2016 – 18 November 2021
Preceded by ʻEtuate Lavulavu
Succeeded by Viliami Latu
Personal details
Born1985 (age 38–39)
Tonga
Political party People's Party
Spouse ʻEtuate Lavulavu
Alma mater Brigham Young University–Hawaii
University of the South Pacific

ʻAkosita Havili Lavulavu (born 1985) is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister. In 2021 she was jailed for fraud.

Lavulavu is the wife of former MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu. She was educated at Tonga High School, with tertiary study at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, earning a Bachelor in Information System, and the University of the South Pacific, earning an MBA. [1]

Before entering politics, she was the director of the Unuaki ʻo Tonga Royal Institute. [2] Following her husband's conviction for bribery in 2016 [3] she stood in the resulting by-election and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, becoming the 5th female MP in Tonga's history. [2] [4] She was re-elected at the 2017 general election, [5] after which she was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports. [6]

On 3 March 2018, Lavulavu and her husband were both arrested on fraud charges stemming from their management of the ʻUnuaki ʻo Tonga Royal Institute in 2016. [7] She was subsequently sacked from her Ministerial position. [8]

Following the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Lavulavu supported Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa for Prime Minister, leaving the DPFI to join Tuʻiʻonetoa's new People's Party. [9] While still awaiting trial, [10] in October 2019 she was appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism in the cabinet of Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa. [11] On 4 June 2021 she and her husband were convicted of 3 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. [12] [13] On 17 June, she took leave from her ministerial position until the case was resolved. [14] On 2 July 2021, she and her husband were sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court of Tonga. [15] [16] On 11 October 2022 the convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal, and the case sent back to the Supreme Court for retrial. [17] [18]

References

  1. ^ "ʻAkosita Lavulavu sworn in as new MP". Legislative Assembly of Tonga. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Sole woman MP elected in Tonga". Radio New Zealand. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Tongan minister found guilty of bribery". Radio New Zealand International. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. ^ Henry Ivarature (18 July 2016). "Tonga by-election yields 5th Female Member of Parliament in its history". IDEA. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Tongan Democrat landslide delivers numbers for Pohiva government". Asia Pacific Report. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Prime Minister Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the Tongan king". Asia-Pacific Report. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Police arrest Minister of Internal Affairs and husband". Matangi Tonga. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Tonga's Internal Affairs Minister fired". RNZ. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa as new PM". The World News. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Lavulavu forgery trial set for 2020". Matangi Tonga. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  11. ^ ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Lavulavu couple plundered education fund, used political connections to steal money, Judgment finds". Matangi Tonga. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Tongan cabinet minister convicted of major fraud". RNZ. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Convicted Cabinet Minister takes leave". Matnagi Tonga. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Tongan MP and former MP sentenced to six years jail". RNZ. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Judge points to serious breach of trust in Lavulavu couple's criminal offending". Matangi Tonga. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  17. ^ Linny Folau (11 October 2022). "Lavulavu's appeal successful, case to be retried". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  18. ^ Philip Cass (11 October 2022). "Re-trial for Lavulavus. Judge overstepped the line and took on prosecutor's role says panel". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
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