LORD Tu'iha'ateiho, a Ha'apai Noble's Representative to the Tongan Parliament, appeared at the Magistrate's Court on January 23, charged with the illegal possession of a firearm.

The case was adjourned to February 6, by the Magistrate Similoni Tu'akalau to allow two weeks for papers to be handed over to the defence.

In Chambers on February 6 the defendant will elect whether he prefers a Preliminary Inquiry at the lower court or to have his case submitted to the Supreme Court for trial.

He was represented by Sifa Tu'utafaiva, a People's Representative to the Tonga Parliament, and the current Chairman of the Whole House Committee.

The noble was first charged in 2010, and his first court appearance was in December of that year.