Tonga Law Society looks into case

David Garrett. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Tonga's Law Society is to look into Act MP David Garrett's admission of using the details of a dead 2-year-old baby to obtain a fake passport.

President, Laki Niu, said the assault conviction was not something that the society would revoke a practising certificate over as it did not involve dishonesty but the fake passport matter did.

"We may take it up," Mr Niu said.

Mr Garrett who has described the passport matter as a youthful prank, was discharged without conviction.

In an affidavit filed for that case the MP said he had no previous convictions.

In 2002 Mr Garrett was ordered by the Magistrate's Court in Tonga to pay "a token fine" of $10 or serve three days in jail in default of payment, for assaulting Dr Mapa Puloka, head of psychiatry at Tonga's main hospital.

The court ordered Dr Puloka to pay "a token fine" of $100 or serve one month imprisonment in default of payment, for assaulting Mr Garrett.

Mr Niu said he had not known about the assault until last week. "I was surprised because Dr Puloka is a mild guy."

Mr Garrett reportedly said the incident happened after he joined a group of people, including Dr Puloka's ex-wife, at a bar and said he was "king-hit" after leaving the bar.

He denied assaulting Dr Puloka and has accused him of making up a false story. Dr Puloka could not be contacted.

Tonga's chief registrar Manakovi Pahulu confirmed the Supreme Court had a record of having received an appeal by Mr Garrett in April 2003 but there was no record of its being heard or struck out.