Dr Taniela Fusimalohi

Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, the Tongan Minister for Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources, was found guilty of electoral bribery by the Supreme Court of Tonga in June 2026. The court determined that his donation of a Starlink satellite terminal to his constituency during the 2025 general election campaign constituted an unlawful inducement under the Electoral Act. He was acquitted of separate allegations regarding road works and town hall construction. Fusimalohi has obtained a stay of the decision pending an appeal, allowing him to remain in his ministerial and parliamentary positions for the time being. Prior to this conviction, Fusimalohi faced public criticism regarding his travel habits; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly noted in May 2026 that Fusimalohi missed his official swearing-in ceremony twice due to overseas travel. Additionally, in March 2026, Fusimalohi announced a government-led investigation into long-standing allegations of corruption and land fraud within the Ministry of Lands, pledging to audit records to address decades of suspected collusion and administrative misconduct.