Three names for Anti Corruption Commissioner [1]
Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 19:20. Updated on Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 11:52.
A permanent Anti Corruption Commissioner for Tonga may be announced next week, said Vuna Fa'otusia, the Chief Executive Officer for Tonga's Ministry of Justice today.
The Judicial Services Commission this week short listed three potential candidates from the 15 candidates who applied for the post in August. The applicants consisted of one from India, five from New Zealand, six from Australia and three from Tonga.
The names of the three potential candidates will be submitted to the the Tongan Cabinet and Privy Council next week, "and it is most likely that the Privy Council will confirm the appointment next week," said Vuna.
New Act
The Anti Corruption Commission was established last August under the Anti Corruption Commission Act 2007, and Neil Adsett, the Ministry of Justice's law reviewer was appointed as the Acting Anti-Corruption Commissioner in June 2007.
The operation of the Commission is co-funded by the Australian and the Tongan governments and it has extensive power, "to investigate suspected corruptions, and prosecute civil servants of wrong doing."