The Speaker of Parliament Lord Lasike appeared before Justice Shuster in closed chambers today after he failed to turn up in open court this morning for arraignment.

He is now to appear on November 11, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa for arraignment on one count of unlawful possession of ammunition.

Justice Robert Shuster had this morning ordered a warrant of arrest to be issued for the Speaker but the Supreme Court office confirmed at 4:30pm that the warrant of arrest had now been cancelled.

It is understood that the defendant turned up later at the Supreme Court after the open court sitting ended at around 11am and appeared before Justice Shuster in closed chambers. The judge cancelled the warrant of arrest and set his arraignment for November 11. He was also given bail until then.

The one count of unlawful possession of ammunition is related to the two .22 rifle bullets found by police on June 28, 2010 during a search warrant conducted at a room, said to have been occupied by Lord Lasike, at his motel Sandy Boyz in central Nuku'alofa.