Latest news with #Tongan
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Mormon Church responds to allegations against American missionary accused of abusing Tongan boys
An 1835, first edition of the Mormon scripture, "Doctrine and Covenants", revelations from Mormon Church Founder Joseph Smith, is displayed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church History Library. Photo: AFP Content warning: This story discusses the sexual abuse of children. The Mormon Church claims it is unclear whether an American missionary - who allegedly sexually abused boys in Tonga - did so under their roof. William James Purdy was indicted by a federal grand jury in Utah on 16 July on charges related to the exploitation of 14 boys outside the United States. The United States Department of Justice said court documents revealed Purdy travelled to the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, in 2017 for a one-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The then 20-year-old allegedly preyed on multiple male victims during his year with the church before returning to the US. "Purdy returned to Tonga in late 2019 to teach at a school in Nuku'alofa, where, for years, he groomed and sexually abused numerous male students, some of whom lived with him," court documents showed. "Purdy allegedly provided gifts, including electronic decives and access to the internet, food, toys and money, in exchange for the performance of sexual acts." He is believed to have secretly recorded young boys in his bathroom at his various apartments in the capital. He was arrested by Tongan police in October 2022, after an eight-year-old school boy disclosed that Purdy sexually assaulted him during their tutoring sessions. However, he continued to offend after being released on bail from prison and in March 2023, with a trial looming, fled the country using a fake passport. Richard Hunter, the Mormon Church's spokesperson for the Pacific area, said the organisation was taking the allegations "very seriously". "It is unclear at this stage if he was involved in abuse as a missionary with us, my colleagues in Tonga were unaware of this until now," said Hunter, who is based in Auckland. However, he admitted that it was "absolutely possible" that offending did occur while he was working with children on his mission. "If our mission leaders in Tonga were aware of this, he would have been sent home immediately for breaking both the law and the commandments of God." "We feel very sad for those whose lives have been impacted so horrendously. I'm hoping there will be opportunities in Tonga for victims to receive love and support from our congregations. He said the church was co-operating with the police in Tonga and the US in all aspects of their pre-trial investigations. Homeland security investigations and diplomatic security service are investigating the case, with the help of Tongan police and the Tongan department of public prosecutions. The investigation has so far identified 14 victims throughout Tonga. "The defendant chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care," said acting assistant attorney-general General Matthew Galeotti of the US justice department's criminal division. "When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the US. The US will not export child exploitation. The department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans." Galeotti said. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Philadelphia special agent in charge Edward Owens said Purdy's actions represented a "profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture." "Our global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice," Owens said. In Tonga In New Zealand
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 29 July
Palau - refugees A proposal from the United States to temporarily host asylum seekers in Palau has been met with resistance in the country's National Congress. The Pacific Island Times reported the proposal, presented on 18 July, sought Palau's agreement to temporarily host people who were seeking asylum in the United States but cannot be returned to their country of origin. Just one day after the proposal was presented, the leaders of both houses of the Olbiil Era Kelulau, or Senate, sent a joint letter to President Surangel Whipps Jr advising him not to proceed. The letter said while Palau is a strong US ally, it cannot afford to overpromise or commit to something it cannot fulfill. The Council of Chiefs, which advises the president and includes traditional leaders from Palau's 16 states, has echoed the congressional stance. Palau does not have a legal framework on accommodating asylum seekers or refugees. Tonga - travel Allegations have been made of excessive travel spending by Tongan politicians. Former Cabinet Minister Etuate Lavulavu, who also operates a newspaper, sayid he has evidence that one minister received up to $5 million Tongan pa'anga, another received $2m, and a third received $1m in their travel packages. Kaniva Tonga reported Lavulavu expressed concern not only about the alleged spending of taxpayers' money, but also about the financial struggles many people are facing. Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi said the government's travel budget has often doubled or exceeded the allocated amount, as shown in official budget documents. Papua New Guinea - transparency Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) has welcomed the government signing a United Nations Transparency Pledge. The UN Convention Against Corruption's Transparency Pledge is a voluntary commitment to meet minimum standards of transparency. PNG signed it earlier this month in Vienna. TIPNG helped develop the pledge and its chairman, Peter Aitsi, said by signing PNG is committing to continuing to include civil society in implementing and reviewing the country's progress on meeting its international obligations to address corruption. He said this commitment builds on previous collaboration between Government and civil society. Tonga - arrest The US Department of Justice has announced the arrest of an American missionary to Tonga. The accused was indicted by a federal grand jury on 16 July, on charges related to the exploitation of minors outside the United States. According to court documents, the man traveled to Tonga for his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and while there, he allegedly sexually abused minor boys. Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service are investigating the case, with the help of Tonga Police and the Tongan Department of Public Prosecutions. Fiji - aerobridge A Fiji Airways Boeing 737 MAX was damaged by an aerobridge at Brisbane's International Airport on Saturday. The Brisbane Times reported that an aerobridge - the enclosed walkway which allows passengers into the plane - smashed into the cockpit's left-hand windscreen after the aircraft arrived from Nadi late at night. All pasengers safely disembarked via the forward stairs. A month ago, a Qantas Boeing 737 was damaged in similar circumstances at Brisbane International Airport, two months after an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 struck an aerobridge as it was being pushed back on the tarmac. Papua New Guinea - mining Investors in Japan have been invited to Papua New Guinea to explore mining opportunities. The National newspaper reported 'OK Tedi Mining Limited' CEO Kedi Ilimbit saying at a seminar in Japan that this marks a new chapter in PNG's relationship with the country. Prime Minister James Marape was also at the event. The agenda included talks on PNG's so-called untapped mining and infrastructure along with social impacts and inclusive growth.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
The viral fish burger might catch your eye, but it's not our critic's go-to order at Edita's
Can we all rally around the return of the great Australian dim sim? Along with other long-maligned or diminished food items such as the salad sandwich, the humble dimmie is seeing a resurgence in recent years. Of course, these things never went out of style in certain country cafes and school canteens, but recently everyone from trendy pubs to inner-city cafes has been re-embracing the dim sim, putting their own spin on the golden-fried meat pucks (none of the newer iterations I've seen have been steamed), and leaning into the collective nostalgia we have for the tuckshop greasiness of our childhoods. In Rathdowne Village, Edita's is taking that nostalgia and going one step further. Yes, there's a next-gen dim sim, which I'll get to in a minute. But Edita's is a full-fledged fish-and-chip shop, inspired by the all-Australian chippie but imbued with freshness and creativity, as well as the Polynesian background of the family that runs it. The small storefront, which was also a fish-and-chip shop under previous ownership, has been brightened and modernised, the main wall across from the counter covered in a large colourful mural of the restaurant's namesake, Edita, the grandmother of owners (and siblings) Tima and Stan Tausinga. Edita's face is everywhere: rendered in neon signage and also as a stamp on the takeaway boxes. This is a business built around family in every way, from its recipes to the various family members working in the shop every day. It's Tima and Stan's father's affection for a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish that inspired the shop's most popular (and somewhat internet-famous) item, the Edita's burger, which sees fried fish drenched in house-made tartare sauce with American cheese on a toasted potato roll. It's a glorious mess of a sandwich, but the fish is fresh, not out of the freezer, battered just before going in the fryer, and the quality of the ingredients make it more than just a tawdry jumble of fried, sweet and gloopy things. The fried fish sandwich has achieved some level of viral status, likely because of its nostalgic appeal, but my heart belongs to the coconut prawn roll. A brioche roll is filled with prawns in a creamy coconut dressing, with flying fish roe and crisp lettuce (which, as a kind of lining for the prawn filling, helps this sandwich avoid the fall-apart sloppiness that plagues the fish burger). The Tongan and Samoan influence shines through in the sweetness of the bread and the tropical flavours of coconut and seafood, and it gave me happy, beachy, summer vibes on a freezing July day in Melbourne. Tonga and Samoa are also represented in the chop suey spring rolls, a mashup of Chinese take-out staples with a Polynesian spin. The basics, too, are done far better than average. The chips are hand cut and thrice fried, finger-like logs of crispy goodness. Given all of this, you might expect Edita's to be pricier than your average chippie, but that's not the case. The packs in particular are fantastic value – $19 gets you a piece of fried flake, a potato cake, dim sim, chips and a can of soda. A family pack, which feeds four, is $70. The coconut prawn roll gave me happy, beachy, summer vibes on a freezing July day in Melbourne. About those dim sims, which are a family-specific take: the filling is a pork sausage that's based on grandma Edita's recipe, and the result is like a rissole encased in a golden-fried wrapper. It almost has more in common with a Scotch egg than a traditional dimmie, albeit one with no egg at its centre. Regardless, it's true to the spirit of the dim sim, in that it's a delicious Melbourne take on food that's influenced by many and diverse populations. The next time I'm asked what, exactly, Australian food is, Edita's will be top of mind. It's an example of the beauty that can happen when cultures collide, when a Pacific Islander family share its own traditions and combines them with our broader collective nostalgia and love for fried and battered meat, seafood and potatoes.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The viral fish burger might catch your eye, but it's not our critic's go-to order at Edita's
Can we all rally around the return of the great Australian dim sim? Along with other long-maligned or diminished food items such as the salad sandwich, the humble dimmie is seeing a resurgence in recent years. Of course, these things never went out of style in certain country cafes and school canteens, but recently everyone from trendy pubs to inner-city cafes has been re-embracing the dim sim, putting their own spin on the golden-fried meat pucks (none of the newer iterations I've seen have been steamed), and leaning into the collective nostalgia we have for the tuckshop greasiness of our childhoods. In Rathdowne Village, Edita's is taking that nostalgia and going one step further. Yes, there's a next-gen dim sim, which I'll get to in a minute. But Edita's is a full-fledged fish-and-chip shop, inspired by the all-Australian chippie but imbued with freshness and creativity, as well as the Polynesian background of the family that runs it. The small storefront, which was also a fish-and-chip shop under previous ownership, has been brightened and modernised, the main wall across from the counter covered in a large colourful mural of the restaurant's namesake, Edita, the grandmother of owners (and siblings) Tima and Stan Tausinga. Edita's face is everywhere: rendered in neon signage and also as a stamp on the takeaway boxes. This is a business built around family in every way, from its recipes to the various family members working in the shop every day. It's Tima and Stan's father's affection for a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish that inspired the shop's most popular (and somewhat internet-famous) item, the Edita's burger, which sees fried fish drenched in house-made tartare sauce with American cheese on a toasted potato roll. It's a glorious mess of a sandwich, but the fish is fresh, not out of the freezer, battered just before going in the fryer, and the quality of the ingredients make it more than just a tawdry jumble of fried, sweet and gloopy things. The fried fish sandwich has achieved some level of viral status, likely because of its nostalgic appeal, but my heart belongs to the coconut prawn roll. A brioche roll is filled with prawns in a creamy coconut dressing, with flying fish roe and crisp lettuce (which, as a kind of lining for the prawn filling, helps this sandwich avoid the fall-apart sloppiness that plagues the fish burger). The Tongan and Samoan influence shines through in the sweetness of the bread and the tropical flavours of coconut and seafood, and it gave me happy, beachy, summer vibes on a freezing July day in Melbourne. Tonga and Samoa are also represented in the chop suey spring rolls, a mashup of Chinese take-out staples with a Polynesian spin. The basics, too, are done far better than average. The chips are hand cut and thrice fried, finger-like logs of crispy goodness. Given all of this, you might expect Edita's to be pricier than your average chippie, but that's not the case. The packs in particular are fantastic value – $19 gets you a piece of fried flake, a potato cake, dim sim, chips and a can of soda. A family pack, which feeds four, is $70. The coconut prawn roll gave me happy, beachy, summer vibes on a freezing July day in Melbourne. About those dim sims, which are a family-specific take: the filling is a pork sausage that's based on grandma Edita's recipe, and the result is like a rissole encased in a golden-fried wrapper. It almost has more in common with a Scotch egg than a traditional dimmie, albeit one with no egg at its centre. Regardless, it's true to the spirit of the dim sim, in that it's a delicious Melbourne take on food that's influenced by many and diverse populations. The next time I'm asked what, exactly, Australian food is, Edita's will be top of mind. It's an example of the beauty that can happen when cultures collide, when a Pacific Islander family share its own traditions and combines them with our broader collective nostalgia and love for fried and battered meat, seafood and potatoes.
International Business Times
2 days ago
- International Business Times
Utah Mormon Missionary Arrested for Giving Boys Nintendos and Snacks in Exchange for Sexual Favors
A U.S. man serving as a Mormon missionary is accused of sexually abusing several boys in Tonga, and then returning to the island nation a couple of years later as a teacher to molest more children, according to federal prosecutors. William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, is accused of sexually abusing 14 boys before he fled Tonga as a fugitive in March 2023 and flew to Utah, as reported by The Sacramento Bee. "Purdy groomed and manipulated these minor victims and their parents. ... Parents trusted him when he was serving as a Mormon missionary, and he took advantage of their goodwill and the fact that he was a member of the church," prosecutors wrote in court filings. Purdy Raped the Boys on 'Church Property,' Groomed Them with Toys, Nintendo Switch, Snacks, Money and Phones On July 16, a federal grand jury in Utah indicted Purdy on two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact, his indictment shows. The mission trip Purdy first traveled to Tonga in the South Pacific for a mission trip with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2017, according to the Justice Department. Tonga, which is made up of 170 islands, is a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific. "He lived in remote, geographically isolated island chains that required a full-day boat trip to visit," prosecutors wrote in the detention motion. There, he raped four boys, some as young as 8, mostly on "church property," the filing says. Purdy groomed children by giving them electronic toys, including a Nintendo Switch, as well as snacks, money and phones, according to prosecutors. Purdy Molested Several Other Boys as a Teacher, Accused of Secretly Recording Boys in His Bathroom In 2019, he visited Tonga again as a teacher in Nuku'alofa, the Justice Department said. He groomed and sexually molested multiple students, including some who lived with Purdy, prosecutors said. While teaching in Tonga, Purdy stayed in different apartments, where he is accused of secretly recording boys in his bathroom, according to prosecutors. In October 2022, an 8-year-old boy being tutored by Purdy revealed that Purdy was sexually assaulting him, the Justice Department said. Authorities arrested Purdy and detained him, prosecutors said. Purdy Assumed the Identity of a Mentally-Disabled Tongan Man and Fled the Country Following his release from jail, he is accused of more sexual assaults against children in Tonga. Purdy was due in court for a trial in Tonga related to the sex abuse, but he escaped the county under a different identity, prosecutors said. He stole the identity of a Tongan man, who was mentally disabled, and obtained a passport in his name, according to the motion for his detention. Security footage captured Purdy holding the passport at the Fuaʻamotu International Airport in Tongatapu, Tonga, the filing shows. In the motion, prosecutors wrote Purdy "preyed upon boys in remote communities, boys who did not have access to the same resources as he did." "He chose boys who were unlikely to speak out about this abuse because of their conservative, religious culture and the stigma associated with male-on-male sexual abuse in their community, not to mention the shame normally associated with the disclosure of sexual abuse," the filing continues. Charges against Purdy are still pending in Tonga, according to prosecutors, who argue he is a serious danger to the public. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti, of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said in a statement that Purdy "chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care." "When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the United States," Galeotti added.
