17 Jul 2009

Fiji President sacks chief magistrate

3:26 pm on 17 July 2009

The President of Fiji is reported to have sacked the country's Chief Magistrate for unspecified reasons.

Fiji Village reports that Ajmal Gulab Khan has confirmed that he was issued a termination letter from the office of the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, on Wednesday afternoon.

But it says Mr Khan has refused to comment further.

Mr Khan was reinstated as chief magistrate on April the 20th following the abrogation of the constitution by Ratu Josefa ten days earlier.

The interim attorney general Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, the Chief Justice Anthony Gates and the Acting Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti are reported to have refused to comment on the termination because the President was the appointing body.

But the President's Office has also refused to comment.