Havea Hikuleʻo ʻoPulotu explained

Havea Hikuleʻo ʻoPulotu, Lord Lasike, is a former Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly.

Political career

Lasike was first elected to the Tongan Legislative Assembly, as a representative of the nobility, in a by-election in 2005, following Lord Nuku's appointment to Cabinet.[1] He was re-elected in the 2008 elections[2] and again in 2010. In March 2006, he was charged with rape and indecent assault,[3] [4] after an incident involving an employee of a hotel he part-owns, but was acquitted.[5]

On 21 December 2010, Lasike was elected Speaker of the House.[6]

Conviction and removal

On 19 April 2011 Lasike was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition following a search of his hotel room in Nuku'alofa. Other firearms charges were dismissed.[7] On 14 October he failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest,[8] but later cancelled after he appeared.[9]

In December, Chief Justice Michael Scott issued a new warrant for his arrest, finding that he had breached the conditions of his bail. He had been granted permission to travel to Israel as part of a parliamentary delegation, but had instead flown to the United States, where he had reportedly got married.[10] [11] Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano called upon Lord Lasike to resign as Speaker.[12] In mid-January, Lasike returned to Tonga, and was immediately arrested and taken to court, where his passport was taken from him.[13] He was also criticised for having "abandoned" the delegation he was supposed to have led in Israel, thus jeopardising a mission said to be important for Tonga's diplomatic and economic relations with the country.[14] Having pleaded not guilty to the count of illegal possession of two .22 ammunitions, he was tried in early July. His counsel was Clive Edwards.[15]

On 9 July 2012, Lasike was convicted of illegally possessing ammunition and fined US$280.[16] As a result, he automatically forfeited his seat in Parliament.[17] Lord Nuku was elected his seat in a by-election.[18] In October, Lasike was acquitted on appeal; the Court of Appeal ruled that the Crown prosecution had not proved that Lasike had been aware that the incriminating ammunition was in his possession.[19] Lasike immediately announced that he would challenge his dismissal from Parliament.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tongan nobles choose two new assembly members . Radio New Zealand International . 2005-05-03 . 2010-12-21.
  2. Web site: Lord Laskie . Parliament of Tonga (cached) . 2010-12-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110203111133/http://www.parliament.gov.to/about-parliament/members/nobles/150-lord-lasike.html . February 3, 2011 .
  3. Web site: Tongan noble Lasike to stand rape trial . Radio New Zealand International . 2006-03-27 . 2010-12-21.
  4. Web site: Lasike rape case awaits judge's decision . Islands Business . 2006-07-28 . 2010-12-21.
  5. Web site: Lasike acquitted of criminal charges . https://web.archive.org/web/20121105063016/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-148838338.html . dead . 2012-11-05 . Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association . 2006-07-31 . 2010-12-21.
  6. Web site: Tonga parliament chooses Lasike as speaker . Radio New Zealand International . 2010-12-21 . 2010-12-21.
  7. Web site: Tonga's Speaker Lord Lasike charged with ammunition offence . Matangi Tonga . 2011-10-14 . 2011-10-19.
  8. Web site: Judge orders arrest of Tonga's Speaker, Lasike . Matangi Tonga . 2011-10-14 . 2011-10-19.
  9. Web site: Lord Lasike arrest warrant cancelled . Matangi Tonga . 2011-10-14 . 2011-10-19.
  10. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65210 "Tonga speaker at risk of arrest over bail breach"
  11. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65248 "Tonga’s Speaker facing arrest when he returns to the country"
  12. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65268 "Tonga leader says Speaker should resign following breach in bail conditions"
  13. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65628 "Tonga speaker arrested for breaching bail terms twice"
  14. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201201/s3415805.htm "Tonga's Speaker accused of embarrassing the country"
  15. http://matangitonga.to/2012/06/01/four-tongan-lords-charged-pending-cases "Four Tongan Lords charged in pending cases"
  16. Web site: Tonga Speaker convicted for illegal possession of ammunition . Radio New Zealand International . 2012-07-09 . 2012-07-09.
  17. Web site: Tonga Speaker barred from Parliament following conviction . Radio New Zealand International . 2012-07-18 . 2012-07-18.
  18. http://matangitonga.to/2012/08/02/lord-nuku-wins-eua-nobles-election "Lord Nuku wins 'Eua nobles by-election"
  19. http://matangitonga.to/2012/10/12/lord-lasike-acquitted-appeal-court "Lord Lasike acquitted by Appeal Court"
  20. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=71512 "Lasike challenges removal as Tonga Speaker"

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