[Kabar-indonesia] Solomons defies Australia on extradition

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

Solomons defies Australia on extradition

HONIARA, Oct. 3 (AFP) - The Solomon Islands has confirmed that its 
attorney-general is sheltering in its embassy in Papua New Guinea and vowed to fight 
Australian attempts to extradite him on child sex charges.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the charges against Julian Moti, the 
country's newly-appointed top law officer, were politically motivated.

Relations between Australia and the Solomons have been strained since 
Sogavare expelled Canberra's ambassador Patrick Cole last month for allegedly 
meddling in local politics.

"If the move to extradite this person is made on political grounds, then the 
government is not obliged to extradite this person," Sogavare told parliament.

"We are concerned here and in Papua New Guinea that this thing is motivated 
by politics, and therefore both countries are obliged to protect this 
individual."

Moti was arrested on Australia's request during a stopover at the airport in 
PNG's capital Port Moresby on Friday while he was en route from Singapore to 
the Solomons.

He was granted bail and ordered to appear in court following day, but failed 
to do so. Australia charged that he was being sheltered in the Solomons 
embassy in Port Moresby, a fact only confirmed by Sogavare Tuesday.

The child sex charges relate to an incident in Vanuatu in 1997. Criminal 
charges in a Vanuatu court were dropped although there was a settlement following 
civil action.

Sogavare said Australia had never before shown any interest in bringing 
charges against Moti, an Australian citizen who had moved freely in and out of 
Australia.

"It is only after the Solomon Islands government appointed this individual to 
the attorney general post that Australia moved to arrest this person," 
Sogavare said.

"A lot of funny things are going on here."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said there was no evidence to 
suggest Papua New Guinea had co-operated with the Solomons in trying to hide 
Moti.

"This is someone who is wanted in Papua New Guinea, the Papua New Guinea 
Magistrates Court has ordered Mr Moti to be remanded in custody and I would expect 
the Solomon Islands government to hand him over," Downer said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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