Lirong Liu, a Chinese national, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of trafficking persons into Tonga, keeping a brothel and trading in prostitution when he appeared at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning, August 11.

The counsel for the accused, Laki Niu, elected for his client to be tried by judge alone.

Justice Warwick Andrew adjourned the trial and set a date for a hearing to start on November 15-19 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Lirong is charged with seven counts: four for trafficking persons, two for trading in prostitution and one count for operating a brothel.

The accused first appeared at the Magistrate's Court at Fasi for the Preliminary Inquiry in May before it was committed to the Supreme Court for trial by Magistrate Sione 'Etika.

The case involved two Chinese women who are currently residing in Tongatapu after arriving from China in 2009 on a Working Visa.