18 Apr 2011

Marshalls AG blocks pay to suspected thieves

6:51 am on 18 April 2011

The Marshall Islands Attorney General's office says a Public Service Commission order to reinstate the pay of two workers suspected of stealing is illegal.

The Attorney General's response is over a memo sent to the Finance Secretary Alfred Alfred Junior, reprimanding him over his failure to reinstate the workers' wages.

The two workers are part of a group of six suspended government workers facing criminal charges for allegedly taking part in the theft of more than 500,000 US dollars from US federal grants.

Our correspondent, Giff Johnson, says the Commission has not disclosed why it wants the two workers to be paid.

He says there are a number legal issuses surrounding paying the two workers.

"Among other things, it's a big violation of the constituion, which prevents or forbids unequal treament of people, which this is."

Giff Johnson.