THE Tonga Lesgislative Assembly plans to open its 2012 session in February, on a date to be set.

The Chief Clerk of the House, Sione Tekiteki, said today, January 16, that a February reopening was decided by parliament last year .

Meanwhile, it is understood that the Speaker of the House, Lord Lasike has not returned to Tonga from the United States. The Speaker is scheduled to appear at the Supreme Court, Nuku'alofa on Friday, January 20 for arraignment on one count of unlawful possession of ammunition.

A warrant for his arrest upon his return to Tonga was issued by Chief Justice Michael Dishington Scott in December last year.

In November, Lasike breached his bail and defied a court order when he travelled to the United States instead of going on a Parliamentary trip to Israel.