2 Apr 2009

Former Solomons AG Moti plans stay application in child sex case

2:52 pm on 2 April 2009

A former Solomon Islands attorney-general Julian Moti plans to apply for a stay of proceedings in a child sex case against him.

Lawyers indicated in the Supreme Court in Brisbane that they were prepared to proceed with the stay application in July.

Details of the application are still being finalised, but one issue that will be argued revolves around allegations that warrants for Mr Moti's arrest were procured and issued incorrectly.

Mr Moti, a Fiji-born Australian citizen, was arrested in December 2007 at Brisbane International Airport after being deported from Honiara following his sacking as attorney-general of Solomon Islands.

He has been charged under commonwealth law with seven counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person under 16, relating to the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Noumea and Vanuatu in 1997.