18 Jan 2007

Solomons Prime Minister rejects sabotage claims

7:02 pm on 18 January 2007

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has rejected Opposition claims that his government has sabotaged the justice system.

The Opposition leader, Fred Fono, told local media he was convinced the Sogavare-led government had politically manipulated the justice system so that the suspended Attorney General was cleared on immigration charges.

Mr Fono has also claimed the government sacked the former police commissioner Shane Castles because he was closing the net on senior government leaders involved with Mr Moti.

However Mr Sogavare was reportedly unmoved by the accusations, saying justice was served by the independent court that freed Mr Moti.

He also dismissed Opposition allegations linking the Moti affair to the dismissal of Mr Castles in December.