Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Case against Tonga’s deputy speaker of Legislative Assembly adjourned

Posted at 22:14 on 13 November, 2012 UTC

The case against Tonga’s deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Tu’iha’ateiho has been adjourned to next February.

Lord Tu’iha’ateiho is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm without a license.

Senior Crown Counsel Sione Sisifa says there is no fixture for preliminary inquiry dates yet.

He says the case has been adjourned for Chambers on the 22nd of February, 2013 for dates to be fixed then.

The preliminary inquiry was initially set to be held for one-day in October at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court but it was adjourned again for a new date to be fixed this month.

Matangi Tonga online says the case has again been adjourned to next February, because the accused is now understood to have new legal representation, Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki and Tavake Afeaki and they need time to prepare.

Lord Tu’iha’ateiho was initially represented by counsel Sifa Tu’utafaiva.