THE Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Doctor Viliami Uasike Latu has been charged for assaulting his wife.
Police have confirmed that the formal charges against Dr. Latu but did not give any further details of the case.
The incident is alleged to have happened in their residence at Tufumahina, after the couple attended the Mr. Steinlager contest at Billfish in late August.
A close source to the family alleges that Dr. Latu struck the victim until she was unconscious, adding that the neighbours took her afterwards to her parentís home.
Currently Tonga Police has a “No drop policy” on domestic violence cases, meaning there will be no reconciliation until the judges decide on the cases.
It is understood that this is not the first time the same charges have been laid against Dr. Latu by his wife.
In April 2008 Dr. Latu was also charged for assaulting the same victim and her sister, but charges were eventually dropped.
Mr. Latu was previously Principal Assistant Secretary at the Prime Ministerís Office.
He was recently nominated by Pro-democracy and human rights activist Akilisi Pohiva, and the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and endorsed as their candidate for Vavaëu constituency #16.
He ran for Vavaëu Peopleís Representatives to Parliament in the last election but missed the seat by 51 votes to Samiu Vaipulu, currently Number Two Representative for Vavaëu and Minister of Justice.
Dr. Latu has worked for the Prime Ministerís Office since the year 2000, where he was involved in many of the Government International affairs such as the Government Satellite Delegation, Developing Policy and Regulatory Framework for Developing Economies of the South Pacific.
– By Tevita Motulalo
