Questions have been raised in Vanuatu as to why it has been almost three years since the Justice Minister, Don Ken, and four other men were charged with criminal trespass and threatening to kill without being prosecuted.
Vanuatu Justice Minister Don Ken fronts his country's response to the country's universal periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Photo: UN
Records show the men were formally charged in 2017.
At the time, Mr Ken did not have a ministerial portfolio.
A Vanuatu Daily Post investigation reveals that the case never reached the prosecution stage in Malekula.
The charges came after it was alleged Mr Ken led the group to a residential area in Lakatoro and threatened to kill Masling Lapenmal and his family.
Inquiries have been made about the delay and police sources say it depends on the officer handling the case.
The case was never called for a preliminary inquiry to be heard in court.
However, Vanuatu prosecutors have a 'no drop' policy, meaning even in cases when parties reconcile they aim for a prosecution at the end of the day.
The case was being handled by a police officer who has now retired and no one at the Lakatoro Police Station followed it up.