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]
References
^"Tongan nobles choose two new assembly members". Radio New Zealand International. 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
^. Parliament of Tonga (cached). Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
^"Tongan noble Lasike to stand rape trial". Radio New Zealand International. 2006-03-27. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
^"Lord Lasike acquitted by Appeal Court", Matangi Tonga, 12 October 2012
^"Lasike challenges removal as Tonga Speaker", Radio New Zealand International, 12 October 2012
March 03, 2023
havea, hikuleʻo, ʻopulotu, lord, lasike, former, speaker, tongan, legislative, assembly, lasike, 2021political, career, editlasike, first, elected, tongan, legislative, assembly, representative, nobility, election, 2005, following, lord, nuku, appointment, cab. Havea Hikuleʻo ʻoPulotu Lord Lasike is a former Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly Lasike in 2021Political career EditLasike 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 EditOn 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 References Edit Tongan nobles choose two new assembly members Radio New Zealand International 2005 05 03 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Lord Laskie Parliament of Tonga cached Archived from the original on February 3 2011 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Tongan noble Lasike to stand rape trial Radio New Zealand International 2006 03 27 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Lasike rape case awaits judge s decision Islands Business 2006 07 28 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Lasike acquitted of criminal charges Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association 2006 07 31 Archived from the original on 2012 11 05 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Tonga parliament chooses Lasike as speaker Radio New Zealand International 2010 12 21 Retrieved 2010 12 21 Tonga s Speaker Lord Lasike charged with ammunition offence Matangi Tonga 2011 10 14 Retrieved 2011 10 19 Judge orders arrest of Tonga s Speaker Lasike Matangi Tonga 2011 10 14 Retrieved 2011 10 19 Lord Lasike arrest warrant cancelled Matangi Tonga 2011 10 14 Retrieved 2011 10 19 Tonga speaker at risk of arrest over bail breach Radio New Zealand International 22 December 2011 Tonga s Speaker facing arrest when he returns to the country Radio New Zealand International 27 December 2011 Tonga leader says Speaker should resign following breach in bail conditions Radio New Zealand International 28 December 2011 Tonga speaker arrested for breaching bail terms twice Radio New Zealand International 19 January 2012 Tonga s Speaker accused of embarrassing the country ABC Radio Australia 25 January 2011 Four Tongan Lords charged in pending cases Matangi Tonga 1 June 2012 Tonga Speaker convicted for illegal possession of ammunition Radio New Zealand International 2012 07 09 Retrieved 2012 07 09 Tonga Speaker barred from Parliament following conviction Radio New Zealand International 2012 07 18 Retrieved 2012 07 18 Lord Nuku wins Eua nobles by election Matangi Tonga 2 August 2012 Lord Lasike acquitted by Appeal Court Matangi Tonga 12 October 2012 Lasike challenges removal as Tonga Speaker Radio New Zealand International 12 October 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Havea Hikuleʻo ʻoPulotu amp oldid 1120022177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
