A 58-year-old Tongan resident with links to Fiji has been jailed for seven and a half years after trafficking a Fijian mother of three to Tonga under the false promise of employment.
The Supreme Court of Tonga convicted Ashok Kumar, of Fangaloto, on one count of trafficking in persons after he arranged the travel of 36-year-old from Fiji to Tonga in October 2024, claiming she would work at the Tanoa Hotel earning $10 per hour.
Court evidence revealed that Kumar contacted the victim on Facebook as she searched for employment to support her family. He paid for her airfare and requested her passport details, claiming it was required for immigration processing.
When she arrived in Tonga on October 4, she discovered there was no hotel job, the living arrangements were nothing like promised, and she had no relatives or contacts in the country.
The woman also told the court Kumar made three attempts to have sex with her, which she refused, leaving her frightened and isolated.
“She was misled by the defendant with false promises of employment,” Crown Counsel told the court.
“She discovered upon arrival that the living arrangements were not as described and she had no relatives or friends in Tonga.”
Fearing for her safety, the woman eventually contacted a cousin — a police officer — and Kumar was arrested on October 8.
Kumar later admitted arranging her travel, but denied promising her a job. The court rejected his explanation.
In sentencing, Justice Tupou KC described the offending as predatory, noting the victim’s vulnerability and the breach of trust involved.
The court heard that although the victim has forgiven Kumar, she said she was shocked “that someone of his age would act in such a manner”.
The Crown had sought a starting sentence of 10 years. Kumar was instead sentenced to seven and a half years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months on conditions including probation supervision and committing no further offences.
The victim has since returned to Fiji.
