Accused street protestors await judgement [1]
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 19:15. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 13:39.
The trial of three street protesters, 'Akilisi Pohiva, Tu'i Uata and Semisi Sika, ended at the Fasi-moe-afi Police Magistrate's Court yesterday.
At the end of two-days of hearing, Police Magistrate Samiu Palu announced that he would deliver his decision on Monday, May 7.
The three accused have been charged with offences relating to a protest march on June 1, 2006.
'Akilisi Pohiva, the Tongatapu no. 1 People's Representative to the Tongan Parliament is charged with four counts of abetting to obstruct police lawful duties.
Tu'i Uata, (the son of the Ha'apai no. 1 People's Representative) is charged with three counts of disobeying police orders, obstruction of police from carrying out his lawful duties, and abetting to disobey.
Semisi Sika a businessman is charged with one count of abetting to disobey.
The three men have all pleaded not guilty to the eight charges on February 9.
The hearing, which had been adjourned several times since the defendants' first appearance in court on January 26, finally started on April 16.
Pohiva represented himself but the legal counsel for Uata and Sika was Clive Edwards.