How Tongan women trapped by marriage scheme in China were rescued

Tongan compatriots around the world collaborated to extricate women who were duped into Chinese marriages.

Tongans are being warned about online marriage schemes which have resulted in several young women being rescued from dire conditions in China.

Yesterday, 1News revealed how several women had been lured to China with promises of a wealthy marriage match along with support for family back home.

In the second part of this two-part investigation, 1News and TVNZ’s Tangata Pasifika looked at how the women were able to escape with help from Tongans living around the world.

Last August, Mele* was contacted on Facebook messenger by a Tongan living in China.

“She told me one of her friends in China was a rich man and would be a good husband.”

Mele said the person said they would pay for her clothes, ticket and “whatever I want, all I need”.

In the end, her older, suspicious sister convinced her not to go.

“I’m a lucky girl.”

Mele comes from a loving family who told 1News they were feeling so relieved she didn’t go to China like the other girls did, and said they don’t want this happening to anyone else.

Four other women who fled China have not been so lucky.

Two of them have told 1News they were mistreated by their new husbands and families.

They said their passports were confiscated, there was violence and they were locked in their rooms, deprived of food.

Tapenisa Mahe, a Chinese resident, was one of the people who helped the women escape.

She spoke to the two women who were running the arranged marriage scheme – a fellow Tongan living in China, and a Chinese with business interests in the kingdom.

Tapenisa Mahe helped the Tongan women escape.

“I feel like they have no conscience,” Mahe said.

In one video, one of the victims can be seen telling the two women who lured who over to China she was desperately unhappy.

They told her she had to pay for her own ticket home. Her US-based aunt then went live on Facebook, highlighting the plight of the young woman.

Money poured in from around the world

Tongans around the world then donated money to help them get out.

“I am grateful my prayers were answered by angels to fundraise for my ticket because my family couldn’t afford it.”

The Chinese Embassy in Tonga has described this situation as a transnational marriage dispute.

The Tonga police are investigating, and the Tonga Women and Children Crisis Centre is supporting the victims.

Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, from Tonga's Women and Children Crisis Centre.

Tonga Women and Children Crisis Centre director Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki said: "We need to raise awareness amongst our communities about what could happen and also to be cautious of opportunities that are presented to particularly young women."

1News has approached one of those involved in the scheme for comment, but there has been no response.

However, contacts in China said the two matchmakers don't believe they have done anything wrong, and deny the allegations the young women have made.