From the Courts
Two Tongan Lords to appear in Magistrate's Court
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A former Speaker of Parliament Lord Tu'ilakepa and the current Deputy Speaker Lord Tu'iha'ateiho will appear at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court separately in October and November, on separate criminal charges.
The Acting Solicitor General Sione Sisifa said this morning that Lord Tu'iha'ateiho, who is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, will appear on October 2, for his Preliminary Inquiry at the lower court. The charge is related to an automatic pistol that was found by police in possession of escaped prisoners who claimed they stole it from his home in 2010.
Lord Tu'iha'ateiho is the current Deputy Speaker and a Ha'apai Noble's Representative to Parliament.
Drugs
Meanwhile, Lord Tu'ilakepa the current Vava'u Noble's Representative to Parliament and a former Speaker , will appear on November 27-28 for his preliminary inquiry, at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court.
He is charged with numerous counts, including conspiracy to the importation of illicit drugs into Tonga and unlawful possession of firearms.
Sione said a pre-trial conference would be held in Chambers on November 19 to confirm the dates for the inquiry. The prosecution is ready to proceed on the dates set, he said.
The preliminary inquiry was set for November after the closure of this year's Parliamentary session.
Lord Tu'ilakepa was first charged in December 2010 following a transnational police investigation into illicit drugs, conducted in Tonga and Australia.
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