12 Jun 2008

Fiji High Court continues to hear argument over freeze on Evan Hannah deportation case

3:47 pm on 12 June 2008

The Fiji Court of Appeal has been told that an application by lawyers for Fiji's interim Attorney-General, which got them an order to freeze the case of deported Fiji Times publisher, Evan Hannah, did not have the all the necessary documents.

The Fiji Times website reports that Mr Hannah's lawyer, Jon Apted, told Justice John Byrne that an ex-parte application filed by lawyers for the Attorney General's Office, did not have the full documents.

Mr Apted told the court the application did not have the removal order and Mr Hannah's writ of Habeas Corpus.

He said the removal order signed by the Defence Ministry permanent secretary clearly stated that Mr Hannah could only be deported seven days after the service of the removal order.

However, immigration officers detained him the same night and flew him out of the country the following morning.

He said as a result of the stay order before Justice Filimoni Jitoko, very essential and important issues regarding Mr Hannah's arrest and deportation were on hold.

Justice Byrne said he needed to read the affidavits from both parties to be better informed himself on the events that took place that day.