Fiji is upping the stakes in its bid to force the return of a runaway army officer facing sedition and mutiny charges.
According to the man himself, Lieutenant-Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, Fijian authorities have seized his wife and taken her into custody at the Army barracks in Nabua.
Ratu Tevita is in Tonga, unable to do anything to help her, held told TV3 last night.
He's wanted in Fiji for sedition after criticising Commodore Frank Bainimarama's military regime.
But one Tongan minister says Tonga's extradition act doesn't cover sedition.
Tonga says it's yet to formally receive the extradition request. Ratu Tevita was reportedly picked up by the Tongan Navy in Fiji waters.
Ratu Tevita told TV3 journalist Michael Mora last night that he regretted being part of the Bainimarama’s army which took over the country in 2006.