Acting AG says he has not received any decision from king after PM proposes to stand him down

Tonga’s Acting Attorney General, ‘Aminiasi Kefu, says he has not been made aware of any decision by the king after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva proposed to His Majesty that his appointment as Acting Attorney General be revoked.

“No one has given me any information that His Majesty approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to take the Acting Attorney General’s position from me,” Kefu said in Tongan.

Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office said they had not yet received any decision regarding Kefu.

In an e-mail to Kaniva News yesterday (December 4) Kefu said he was continuing to work in his role as Tonga’s Acting Attorney General

He said he was currently in Strasbourg in France representing the government of Tonga atthe Cybercrime Convention meeting.

Kefu said he was also scheduled to attend a meeting in the Solomon Islands next week for Attorneys and Solicitors General of the Pacific.

Kefu was responding to claims in local newspapers that the King has approved Hon Pohiva’s proposal to revoke Kefu’s appointment.

Kakalu ‘o Tonga newspaper said in its edition of November 19 that it had reliable information from a source within the Prime Minister’s Office that the king had decided to agree to the PM’s proposal.

This week the Prime Minister’s newspaper, Kele’a, claimed a letter from His Majesty’s Law Lord, Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani on November 13, had been delivered to Kefu, telling him his appointment would be terminated.

The paper claimed the revocation would take effect on December 20, 2015.

Kaniva News asked the Prime Minister’s Office for clarification of Kefu’s role on November 17.

In an e-mail to Kaniva News on November 26 the Prime Minister’s Office said it could not release any information.

The PM’s Office said a statement would be released when a decision had been made.

They did not give details of whether this meant they were awaiting a response from the king to Hon. Pohiva’s proposal, or whether this meant a decision on when they could announce the king’s decision.

Tongan Chief Secretary and Secretary to cabinet Dr Palenitina Langa’oi told Kaniva News yesterday she was away overseas at a Commonwealth meeting but “believed” there was action in place on the matter regarding the Attorney General.

She said she would get the details when she would return to Tonga next week.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Acting Attorney General, ‘Aminiasi Kefu, says he has not been made aware of any decision by the king after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva proposed to His Majesty that his appointment as Acting Attorney General be revoked.
  • “No one has given me any information that His Majesty approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to take the Acting Attorney General’s position from me,” Kefu told Kaniva News.
  • Kefu was responding to claims in local newspapers that the King has approved Hon Pohiva’s proposal to revoke Kefu’s appointment.
  • This week the Prime Minister’s newspaper, Kele’a, claimed a letter from His Majesty’s Law Lord, Lord Dalgety had been delivered to Kefu, telling him his appointment would be terminated.

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