LORD Tu'ilakepa, the former Speaker of the Tonga Legislative Assembly, is to appear at the Fasi Magistrate's Court on Thursday, January 27 on charges relating to illegal firearms, illegal ammunitions and illicit drugs.

Police Prosecutor Mema Latu said today, January 24 that Lord Tu'ilakepa appears on Thursday in chambers to set the date for the start of the Preliminary Inquiry at the lower court.

The accused, who is currently a Vava'u Noble's Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, was charged last year with five counts, including two for possession of illegal firearms, two for possession of illegal ammunition and one count for possession of an illicit drug.

Transnational

The charges followed a transnational police investigation into illicit drugs conducted in Tonga and Australia. On December 2, 2010 Tonga Police executed five search warrants at four locations in Tongatapu and one location in Vava'u.

This resulted in the arrest of Lord Tu'ilakepa in Tongatapu.

Tonga Police received information from the Australian Federal Police, who also conducted searches in Sydney.