Trafficking persons judgement adjourned to April 26 [1]
Monday, April 11, 2011 - 18:36. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
THE judgement in Tonga's first case of trafficking persons, expected today, has been adjourned by Justice Shuster to April 26 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
At the end of the trial on February 4, Justice Shuster initially reserved his judgement to be delivered on April 11, but today was adjourned after the defence counsel Laki Niu asked for more time to complete his final written argument.
The trial held before the judge alone began on January 11 where a Chinese national, a woman Liu Lirong (45) pleaded not guilty to seven counts including four for trafficking persons into Tonga, one for keeping a brothel and two counts for trading in prostitution.
The complainants, two Chinese nationals, Chun Juan Du and Hong Yu Yang in their evidence told the court that Liu had forced them into prostitution in Tongatapu.
Liu who appeared this morning in court, in her evidence during the trial strongly denied the prostitution claimed by the two women.