Tongan lawyers clash with Govt

Prime Minister Feleti Sevele. Photo / Getty Images

Tongan lawyers accused the Government yesterday of trying to influence the judiciary and called an inquiry into the independence of judges a farce.

"The judiciary is no longer independent in Tonga," said Law Society president Laki Niu.

He was responding to a statement from Prime Minister Feleti Sevele's office that Tonga's Privy Council had approved an inquiry into claims the Government "has attempted unduly to influence the independence of the judiciary".