The Tongatapu no. 2 People's Representative, 'Isileli Pulu, has pleaded not guilty to charges of abetment to murder and abetment to arson at the Shoreline Building on November 16 2006.

Pulu appeared before Justice Warwick Andrew at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court in early May. All of the charges against him are related to the burning of businesses during the riot of November 16 2006.

Pulu, who was represented in court by the Tongatapu no., 3 People's Representative, Clive Edwards, pleaded not guilty to a total of ten charges.

The charges include eight charges of abetment to murder relating to the death of eight people in the Shoreline building resulting from the fire caused by rioters, and two charges of abetment to arson relating to the burning down of the Shoreline building.

Justice Warwick set the hearing to begin on June 9 and the accused chose to be tried by a jury.