A New Zealand lawyer has been prevented from re-entering Vanuatu after allegations he was in the country working on a police mutiny case without the correct papers.
Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs Charlot Salwai says he signed an order declaring Christopher Griggs a prohibited immigrant.
The minister has denied he was deported.
Mr Salwai told the Vanuatu Independent that Mr Griggs was serving as acting public prosecutor during a holiday in Vanuatu last year and stayed in a hotel at the expense of the Vanuatu Police Force.
Mr Salwai says there was an attempt at the time to prosecute in the alleged mutiny case involving the former Commissioner of Police Joshua Bong.