CHRISTOPHER Mafi and 'Alunga Katoa appeared at the Fasi Magistrate's Court this morning, November 1 facing three counts each of embezzlement and theft of travel expenses.

The two men who work for a travel agency Kalia Travel in Ma'ufanga made their first court appearance before Magistrate Pita Soakimi.

The two embezzlement counts and one count of theft for each accused relates to $13,200 of a customer's travel expenses.

The Magistrate adjourned the case to 8 February, 2011 for the preliminary inquiry to begin at the Fasi Magistrate's Court.

The pair were charged after a complaint was received that booked tickets had, in fact, not been booked for a family who found themselves in a situation where they were stranded overseas.

One of the accused, Christopher Mafi of Ma'ufanga, is currently registered as a candidate for the Tongatapu 4 constituency in the November 25 general election.