25 Apr 2006

Fiji lawyer files writ against magistrate

11:43 am on 25 April 2006

A Fiji lawyer has filed a writ against a resident magistrate, the police commissioner and the attorney general saying their actions were malicious and in bad faith.

Fiji TV reports that Lautoka lawyer Iqbal Khan's writ relates to what he says was the wrongful detention of his client, Mohammed Shafil.

He has named Lautoka magistrate Lisa Gowing, police commissioner Andrew Hughes, and the attorney general Qoriniasi Bale as defendants.

Mr Khan claims magistrate Gowing acted wrongfully and without reasonable cause in having Mr Shafil arrested.

He says Lautoka High Court judge, Justice Kishore Govind, had already ruled in favour of a stay order in the case against Shafil and ordered that Mr Shafil be produced in the High Court before him.

Mr Khan says the actions of a police officer in arresting Mr Shafil in the High Court were wrong and unlawful and against sections of the constitution, and had caused his client humiliation and distress.