The Chief Justice in Tonga has ruled there is sufficient evidence to try former Prime Minister and current noble representative Lord Tu'ivakano on bribery charges.
Photo: ikiryo/123RF
Matangi Tonga reported Lord Chief Justice Paulsen made the ruling on Tuesday regarding four charges of accepting a bribe as a government servant.
The ruling overturns an initial decision by the Principal Magistrate to discharge Tu'ivakano.
The Chief Justice said the decision was made on the grounds there is a sufficiency of evidence for a trial, on a date yet to be set.
Tu'ivakano was initially charged with a total of 12 counts but in January the Principal Magistrate struck off the four counts of accepting bribes, citing a lack of evidence.
The latest decision brings the number of charges back to 12.
In March 2018, Tu'ivakano was arrested and charged with making a false declaration to obtain a Tongan passport, money laundering and accepting bribes by a government servant.
He remains on bail.