Justice Andrew leaves Tonga early [1]
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - 17:05. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 19:53.
A Supreme Court Judge and former chairman of the Ashika Inquiry, Mr Justice Warwick Andrew left Tonga abruptly yesterday, August 30, more than a month before his contract was due to expire on October 5, after he said he was told not to continue hearing cases and to hand over his files to the Chief Justice
Saying that he "deeply regretted the injustice" that this will mean for many litigants that are part-heard, Mr Justice Andrew in a letter to law practitioners in Tonga, stated the reason for his departure.
"I have been informed that by virtue of a Cabinet Decision that I am not to continue sitting as a judge of the Supreme Court although I remain a judge up until the 5 October 2010.
"This means that I am unable to hear the many matters listed before me and unable to complete any part-heard matters.
"I deeply regret the injustice that this will mean for the many litigants involved and especially for those whose matters are part-heard and who may now have to suffer the expense and frustration of re-commencing their matters.
"I have been advised to hand all files which I am dealing with to Mr Justice Shuster, the acting Chief Justice, who will be responsible for the further listing of these matters," he stated.
However, Mr Justice Warwick did not say expressly who had informed him not to continue.
The chief registrar, Manako Vi confirmed that Mr Justice Warwick left Tonga at 11:00 am yesterday, August 30.
Ashika Inquiry
Mr Justice Warwick Andrew was temporarily relieved from his Supreme Court judge duties in 2009 to be the Chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.
He returned to Supreme Court duty this year, but he had announced that he would not renew his contract again after October.
He is the second Supreme Court Judge to leave Tonga in recent months, following the departure of Chief Justice Anthony Ford whose contract was not renewed.