18 Oct 2006

Solomons immigration minister arrested over Moti case

4:28 pm on 18 October 2006

The Solomon Islands immigration minister has been arrested and is facing a court today over the Julian Moti affair.

Mr Moti was charged with illegally entering the Solomons despite what he said was an order from Immigration Minister Peter Shanel, granting him the right to enter without a valid travel document.

However, the Solomons' solicitor-general has questioned the order's authenticity, claiming its date was falsified and the document was issued after Mr Moti's arrival in the country.

Mr Shanel will face court later today.

Mr Moti, who Mr Sogavare had named as the country's attorney-general, is currently in jail in Honiara on immigration charges.

He was jailed for illegally entering the country after escaping from Papua New Guinea in a secret flight on a PNG military aircraft.