Lord Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen ruled today, there is sufficient evidence to commit Lord Tu‘ivakano for trial on four charges of accepting a bribe as a government servant.

This was a ruling on an appeal to overturn a decision by the Principal Magistrate in a preliminary inquiry held at the lower court. The magistrate had discharged the accused noble of accepting bribes as a Government servant.

The appeal was successful.

"The appeal has been allowed on the ground there is a sufficiency of evidence to commit the respondent for trial on the four charges on a date that is yet to be fixed," the Chief Justice stated.

However, so as not to prejudice a fair trial the ruling, with details of the evidence, has been released only to the parties.

“Until further order there shall be no publication of the contents of the ruling. This order does not prevent it being reported that the appeal has been allowed on the basis there is a sufficiency of evidence to put the respondent on his trial,” stated the Supreme Court in a media release.

Hearing

The appeal hearing was held on May 17, at the Supreme Court.

The accused was initially charged with a total of 12 counts. But, in January this year, the Principal Magistrate struck off the four counts of accepting bribes citing lack of evidence.

With the appeal allowed today, the number of charges against the noble and former Prime Minister now goes back to 12.

In March last year, the accused noble was arrested and charged with numerous counts, including making a false declaration to obtain a Tongan passport, money laundering and accepting bribes by a government servant.

He remains on bail.