The trial of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Sione Vuna Fa’otusia will be held in July on charges, which related to a dispute over a stolen cow in 2019.

Prosecution said today, the trial starts on July 6 before a new Supreme Court judge, Justice Cooper at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

The trial date was set in January this year.

In December last year, after completing quarantine and home isolation since returning from New Zealand, Fa'otusia appeared in Court for arraignment.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of interference with the course of justice and use of abusive language to a government servant, in this case police officers. He then resigned from Cabinet.

It is understood, that he had been abroad, since Tonga's borders closed in March last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cow row

The Court heard the incident occured on January 12, 2019 during a police investigation into the stolen cow, when three police officers retrieved the cow from a property at Ha'ateiho.

The alleged offences occured when Fa'otusia (who was the Minister of Justice at the time) telephoned the police officers.