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Solomon Islands sacks controversial Australian lawyer

The Solomon Islands government has sacked controversial attorney general Julian Moti and taken steps to deport him to Australia where he is wanted on child sex charges, officials said yesterday.

Moti, an Australian citizen, was dismissed from his post after he lost a legal battle to stay in the country.

"He has now received his termination papers," a spokesman for the prime minister's office said.

The government chief of staff Mathew Wale told Radio New Zealand that Moti would be deported within a week.

COURT RULING

In a weekend High Court hearing, Chief Justice Albert Palmer ruled Moti's right to remain in the Solomon Islands was by virtue of his political appointment and not as an individual.

The new Solomons government of Derek Sikua has pledged to send Moti back to Australia as part of its policy to improve relations with Canberra.

Sikua was elected prime minister of the impoverished South Pacific nation last week shortly after previous leader Manesseh Sogavare lost a confidence vote moved in part because of the nation's deteriorating relations with Australia.

BITTER STANDOFF

Sogavare, who appointed Moti as attorney general, was embroiled in a bitter standoff with Canberra and had refused to hand over Moti who is wanted for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Vanuatu in 1997.

However, following the weekend court ruling Moti was dismissed and deportation moves are under way.

THIS WEEK

"It'll be within this week for sure," Wale told Radio New Zealand.

"The exact time and date is up to the authorities and obviously, working with the airlines. We don't have flights every day," he said.

"He doesn't have a passport and we are not terribly worried about that, that is up to his government, the Australian government to consider," Wale said.
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