Fineasi Funaki

Fineasi Funaki (1966 – 13 November 2010)[1] was a Tongan politician and cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement.

Viliami Tangi
Minister of Tourism
In office
17 May 2006 – September 2010
Prime MinisterFeleti Sevele
Succeeded byFeleti Sevele
Personal details
Born1966
Died13 November 2010
Suva, Fiji

Funaki was educated at Tonga College and the Tongan teachers' training college, before studying at Brigham Young University–Hawaii.[2] He was elected People's Representative for Ha'apai at the 2005 election. He was appointed Minister of Tourism in May 2006,[3] and was reappointed after the 2008 election. In January 2008 he was accused of corruption after depositing a cheque from the Chinese Embassy to the Ministry into his personal bank account.[4] A subsequent report from the Auditor-General found that he had broken the law by depositing a cheque from the Chinese Embassy into his personal bank account and recommended that he be asked to resign.[5] Prime Minister Feleti Sevele refused the recommendation of asking for Funaki's resignation, blaming the misappropriation of funds on inexperience,[6] but Funaki forfeited his salary for three months and was forced to apologise.[7]

Funaki resigned from Cabinet in September 2010 due to ill-health.[1] He died in Suva while undergoing treatment later that year.[1]

Honours
National honours

References
  1. "Fineasi Funaki (44) dies in Fiji". Matangi Tonga. 16 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  2. "Church member in charge of tourism in Tonga". Church News. 12 August 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. "A cabinet reshuffle takes place in Tonga". RNZ. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. "Calls for Tonga tourism minister to step aside amid corruption probe". RNZ. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. "Auditor General's report in Tonga says Minister of Tourism broke the law". RNZ. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. "Lack of experience causes Tongan minister to break law, says government". RNZ. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. "Tongan minister apologises for breaking law". RNZ. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  8. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.