LAST week Australia paid compensation and apologised to Mr Julian Moti QC for his illegal deportation from the Solomon Islands on 27 December 2007.

Writing in the Pacific Magazine on 3 January 2008, I said that I hoped the criticism of the police intervention in the deportation of former Attorney General Julian Moti was unfounded. If true that the police arrested and deported this person when a Magistrate Court order had been issued pending an Asylum hearing, then this could raise serious questions about the correctness and legality of the police action.

Time has proven that my concerns were justified and clearly the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands was disrespected and the Commissioner of Police at the time compromised in the execution of his duties in enforcing the arrest and deportation of Mr Moti.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short