23 Feb 2007

Former prosecutor back in Fiji after being ordered out by former Qarase government

10:26 am on 23 February 2007

Fijis' former deputy director of public prosecutions, Peter Ridgeway, who was ordered out of the country by the deposed Qarase government, is back in Fiji.

Fiji TV last night showed pictures of Mr Ridgeway accompanied by the head of the military's legal services, Lt Col Mohammed Aziz, visiting the office of the DPP and the interim administration's Corruption Investigation Unit.

Mr Ridgeway's contract was cancelled by the Qarase government without explanation in mid 2005 and he was ordered to leave Fiji within 24 hours or face forcible deportation.

Mr Ridgeway was the chief prosecutor in the 2000 coup cases which saw the conviction and jailing of such high profile figures as the former vice president, Ratu Jope Seniloli, and the former deputy Speaker of parliament, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure.

The interim administration would not indicate last night whether Mr Ridgeway will be given another prosecution assignment in Fiji.

The interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum, would only say there was nothing official.