'Akosita Lavulavu

The Infrastructure Minister, 'Akosita Lavulavu, with her husband, 'Etuate Lavulavu - a former cabinet minister, have been charged with fraud over land they quarried in Vava'u four years ago.

When asked by the website Kaniva Tonga whether he would sack the minister, the prime minister said "Let the law rule."

The opposition leader Sēmisi Sika has said Lavulavu should resign if found guilty.

The Magistrate's Court office said on Tuesday that the two accused, who are yet to be named, were charged together with the former ministers.

The two and 'Akosita Lavulavu will next appear in court on Friday.

Matangi Tonga reported that 'Etuate Lavulavu's case is adjourned until 3 December.

The Lavulavu couple is charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretences, after irregularities in an audit of the 'Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.