27 Jan 2012

Tonga speaker back in court today

6:51 am on 27 January 2012

The Speaker of Tonga's parliament, Lord Lasike, is due back in court today charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

Lord Lasike was arrested for breach of bail last week when he returned from a two-month stay in the United States.

He had been allowed to lead a parliamentary delegation to Israel but hopped off the trip to get married in the US.

Today, he is expected to enter a plea and choose whether he wants to be tried by a jury or judge alone, before a trial date is fixed.