29 May 2010

Family in Moti rape accusal case say they were used by Australian police

11:25 am on 29 May 2010

The family of a girl who accused one-time Solomon Islands attorney general Julian Moti of rape say the Australian Federal Police used them for political purposes and they regret being involved in the matter.

Meanwhile the AAP newsagency reports the Australian government is continuing to give the family in Vanuatu thousands of dollars a month despite a Queensland Supreme court throwing out the charges against Mr Moti.

The court had ruled payments from the AFP of nearly 130 thousand US dollars amounted to an abuse of process and brought the administration of justice into disrepute.

The money has covered rent and other expenses for the family.

The parents of the girl say they were disappointed with the AFP's handling of allegations that the Fiji-born Australian lawyer raped their daughter when she was 13.

The father says as part of the AFP witness deal his daughter now lives in Brisbane and the case had torn the family apart.

An AFP appeal of the Moti ruling set to be heasrd next week.