The king through his Privy Council said ‘Aminiasi Kefu will continue to hold the post of acting Attorney General while a panel is being selected according to the constitution to choose someone for the post.
The royal command comes after the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva submitted a proposal last year asking the king to remove Kefu from the post.
The Prime Minister claimed Kefu has many obligations for the government including being the Director of Prosecution and that was too much for him.
Kefu declined to comment saying the king has made his decision.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the government was awaiting the panel and when it is going to nominate someone to become the kingdom’s next attorney general.
The king has the power to appoint and dismiss Tonga’s attorney general according to the constitution.
The Prime Minister attacked Kefu in February saying he was interfering in Lord Tuʻilakepa’s fire arms case.
Lord Tu’ilakepa was sentenced in January and ordered to pay fine of TP$10,000 within 14 days after pleading guilty to firearms and ammunition charges.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and if Lord Tu’ilapeka had been jailed for two or more years he would have lost all his noble privileges and title.
He escaped the jail terms and still holds his title.
In a letter released to the media, the Prime Minister said Kefu appeared to have interfered “with the independence and impartiality of a pending decision by a Supreme Judge of His Majesty’s Judiciary.”
Kefu initially told Kaniva News, Pōhiva’s statement was “based on a total misunderstanding of judicial proceedings, and the role of the AG”.
