27 Dec 2011

Tonga's Speaker facing arrest when he returns to the country

2:42 pm on 27 December 2011

Tonga's chief justice, Michael Scott, has issued a warrant for the arrest of Lord Lasike, the Speaker of Parliament, after he breached bail conditions and travelled to the USA in November.

Lord Lasike is on bail after being charged with the possession of gun ammunition.

The Matangi Tonga website reports he had travelled to the US in November to get married and is yet to return to Tonga.

He had been allowed out of the country on the understanding he was part of a parliamentary team travelling to Israel - but he only went as far as the US.

Chief Justice Scott has ordered Lord Lasike be arrested the moment he comes back to Tonga.