The Attorney General’s office has still not responded to a request from Kaniva News about whether there were any legal grounds on which it could sue two former Prime Ministers over the illegal payment of TP$90 million to Princess Pilolevu and Tongasat.
Acting Attorney General ‘Aminias Kefu was told the public raised the question with us after the Supreme Court declared last month that Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakanō had roles in the transfer of the unlawful payments.
A proposal in Parliament on Monday by cabinet to sue former Prime Ministers Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakanō for their involvements was yesterday passed on to the Law Committee.
The Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa asked the House to help him in selecting a committee to look at the proposal.
The Acting Speaker said he had received a confidential Cabinet decision, but it was in English and needed to be translated into Tongan.
He did not say what was in the Cabinet decision.
The Speaker also said he has sought the Acting Attorney General’s advice and had received a response.
However, he did not say what the Acting Attorney General’s advice was.
The Parliament was also told the Acting Attorney General should have given advice on the issue.
Tongatapu 3 MP Siaosi Soveleni told the House the Acting Attorney General should advise the House on what they should do.
He warned the House there could be a problem with the proposal because Lord Sevele was not a current member of Parliament.
The government first revealed its decision to sue the former Prime Ministers on Monday.
As Kaniva News reported, the Prime Minister told the House if they did not support the government’s proposal the issue would not go away and if they tried to suppress it, it would pop up elsewhere.
The main points
- The Attorney General’s office has still not responded to a request from Kaniva News about whether there were any legal grounds on which it could two former Prime Ministers over the illegal payment of TP$90 million to Princess Pilolevu and Tongasat.
- The government revealed its decision to sue the former Prime Ministers on Monday.
For more information
Supreme Court issues declaration on legal status of main points in Tongasat case
