Contempt of Court, Genuine Concerns or Animosity?: Letter from PM to Attorney General Featured
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One of the most discussed issues today is a controversial letter from the Prime Minister of Tonga Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva to the Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu expressing his grave concerns over the role of the Acting Attorney General in the criminal case of Lord Tu‟ilakepa.
The disenchantment self-explanatory letter (attached) is about the firearms and ammunition found in Lord Tu’ilakepa’s places at Longolongo & Ofu, and the resultant sentences based on available evidences put before, and imposed by Supreme Justice.
Prime Minister Pohiva during an interview with Radio 89.5 FM yesterday stressed his dissatisfaction with the sentence of Lord Tu’ilakepa as he believed that the sentence should exceed the $10,000 imposed by Justice Cato two weeks ago. He went on to say that case last for a long time and it should have been quicker than that not to mention other strong evidences that should carefully considered by the Justice system.
The strange nature of the letter raises the questions of whether it can be treated as a contempt of court, genuine concerns over the involvements of the Acting Attorney General on the case or a direct attacked on the Noble by the Prime Minister. The issue is at stake and has created interesting reactions from the public in the last couple days.
Former Minister of Justice William Clive Edwards a respected Lawyer in Tonga still can’t believe the letter. In an interview with Nepituno, Edwards stated that he will give is view later on. “I am shock and I can’t believe my eyes when I went through the letter” Edwards replied. Lord Tu’ilakepa is a strong opponent of the Prime Minister in the House for a long time and the issue of the court case always raised by the PM when he led the opposition in the House during the last Parliamentary Term.
