The Speaker of Fiji's parliament, Jiko Luveni, has ruled that the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum can stay on the Privileges Committee to hear a complaint about an opposition MP.
Fiji's Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni Photo: Fiji Department of Information
Last week, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum moved a motion in parliament to refer Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu over an alleged slur about the speaker made during a constituency meeting.
The opposition considered that it was against natural justice for a complainant to also be sitting in judgment.
It also argued that the Privileges Committee had no right to rule about comments made outside parliament.
But according to FBC News, Dr Luveni dismissed the concern, saying Sayed-Khaiyum had no direct interest in the motion and is therefore allowed to be on the Committee.
It is not known if Dr Luveni lodged a police complaint for alleged defamation
Last week, the prime minister, Frank Bainiamarama, who shut down the last parliament as part of his 2006 military coup, expressed sadness at reports of the alleged slur about what he called the esteemed position in the supreme law making body.