Solomons ponders refugee status for Moti
The Solomon Islands Immigration Minister Peter Chanel says the suspended Attorney General may be able to enter the country as a refugee.
Julian Moti is facing child sex charges in Australia and has had his Australian passport cancelled when he was briefly held in Papua New Guinea last week.
Moves have been afoot to give Mr Moti a Solomons passport after PNG refused to extradite Mr Moti to Australia.
But the Solomon Islands immigration minister says Mr Moti is not eligible for a passport.
“Under our criteria, he’s not qualified. But then if you look at the refugee status, if he’s to be declared a stateless person then we can look at where the UN comes in with regards to refugee status and where Solomon Islands law applies.”