A hearing date is expected to be set on September 6 to hear submissions in regards to the Crown's proposal to have a joint trial for Tonga’s former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and two other accused, regarding passport offences.

The Crown stated the case was heard in chambers at the Supreme Court on July 17 was adjourned to be mentioned in September, before a new Chief Justice for Tonga.

It is expected that he would then set a hearing date to hear submissions on the joint trial.

Previously on June 14, the accused noble appeared before Lord Chief Justice O.G Paulsen and pleaded not guilty today to a total of 15 charges.

12 of those charges had included perjury and accepting bribes, relating to the issuance of Tongan passports, and three charges for possession of firearms and ammunition without a license.

In addition, the Crown on this date submitted they wanted to hold the accused noble's trial together with Isabella Satua Tu’akoi and ‘Ileana Suliana Taulua who are also charged with passport offences.

Their position is that the facts relating to all three accused are the same.

Clive Edwards who is representing Lord Tu'ivakano strongly opposed the Crown's submission to have one trial with all three.