Pacific

Democracy activists to face trial in Tonga

15:59 pm on 19 August 2002

A magistrate's court in Tonga has decided there is enough evidence to take a case against a group of politicians and journalists to the Supreme Court.

MPs Akilisi Pohiva and Isileli Pulu, Kele'a journalist Po'oi Pohiva, and the editor of the Taimi O Tonga newspaper, Mateni Tapueluelu, will face a combined total of 14 charges of sedition and knowingly dealing with a forged document.

The charges relate to the publishing of a letter which claimed the King had a secret bank account containing millions of dollars.

The Supreme Court will meet on October 4th to decide a date for the trial.