The Tongan noble Lasike appeared in the Nuku‘alofa Magistrate's Court today at the beginning of a preliminary inquiry on a charge of rape of an employee at a motel he has ownership in.

Lasike who appeared before Police Magistrate Peau Pifeleti, is charged with the rape of a 25-year-old woman on October 15, 2005 at the Sandyboyz Motel located in central Nuku...’alofa. The accused is a shareholder of the motel and the victim was a receptionist at the time.

The complainant whose name was suppressed by the court appeared today as the first witness called by the prosecution to give evidence.

During her testimony this morning the complainant clearly was not afraid to give detailed evidence of what was done to her in regards to the alleged rape and identified Lasike as her rapist.

The courtroom was full and it consisted mainly of employees at the motel, the accused's close relatives and friends including Siosifa Fatafehi (the former Noble Veikune), and representatives of most of the local media in Tonga.

At the beginning of the inquiry, Chief Inspector ...‘Unga Fa...’aoa the Police Prosecutor in this case delivered his opening address in which he provided the court with a summary of the alleged events that took place at the night the crime was committed.

It was alleged that about 10-11pm the complainant who was a receptionist at the motel was forcefully attacked and raped by the accused in one of rooms at the motel. After that night the complainant returned to work the next day and informed the motel...’s General Manager, Mr Sami, that she would not be returning to work because of what happened to her.

The accused who was sitting in the front seat of the courtroom facing the complainant was expressionless when he heard the detailed evidence.

The Chief Inspector said that he intended to call several witnesses to give evidence during the inquiry and he expected up to six days for them to be all heard in court.

The accused is represented by William Clive Edwards.