‘We don't see it as politics’: Kiribati minister says David Lambourne ‘has to follow the law’

Kiribati's education minister has fired back at claims that parliament's decision to remove High Court Judge David Lambourne was politically motivated.

Australia-born Lambourne is married to Tessie, who was opposition leader in the previous parliament, and was elected back into the Maneaba ni Maungatabu during last month's elections.

In May 2022, Kiribati incumbent President Taneti Maamau suspended Lambourne from the High Court and appointed a tribunal to investigate unspecified allegations of misconduct against him.

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The following month, when the senior judge's appeal against his suspension came up in court, the government suspended the chief justice who was to hear the case, before setting up the first of two tribunals to investigate Lambourne.

Lambourne departed the country in May this year.

Speaking to RNZ Pacific at the Pacific leaders' summit in Tonga, Alexander Teabo said the case had attracted a lot of "negative" press, but he claims the government had a valid case.

"We believe David Lambourne married a Kiribati citizen who happened to be the opposition [leader], I think that's why people think it might have some political elements there," he said.

"But to us, our position is that we don't see it as politics."

Teabo said Lambourne had been in Kiribati "for long" and had not applied for citizenship.

"He has to follow the law. Everything is there. The laws are there, that's how we handle this case."

A UN expert has previously said the vote by Kiribati's Parliament to remove Lambourne is a major setback for justice and the rule of law.

The country's first president, Sir Ieremia Tabai, called the removal of Lambourne a farce.