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Judge Anthony Ford, former chief justice in Tonga. - Source: ONE News -
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The Tongan government's facing fresh criticism over alleged interference in the country's judiciary.
Two Supreme Court judges have left the country in the past month amid claims they've been pushed.
One of them, Anthony Ford, has now taken a seat on a bench in New Zealand as an employment court judge.
Just three weeks ago, Kiwi judge Ford was an internationally acclaimed chief justice in Tonga. But that job ended amid allegations of a government sacking.
Former attorney general John Cauchi says the Tongan government is at fault.
"I know that the Tonga government doesn't like hearing this but they show a lack of respect for the judiciary," Cauchi told ONE News.
Cauchi resigned as Tonga's attorney-general earlier this year and made international headlines after complaining of judicial interference.
He's one of the many legal heavyweights in Wellington for the swearing in of Ford, and speaking out against the Tongan government.
Warwick Andrew, the second Supreme Court Judge allegedly sacked by cabinet, left Tonga on Monday and is also in Wellington for the swearing in of Judge Ford.
Despite their collective opinion, the high-powered legal gathering says they have little hope the Tongan government will listen.
"Of course not, they've never listened, we specifically asked government to renew Chief Justice Ford's contract," Laki Niu, lawyer and former President of the Tongan Law Society told ONE News.
The only judge left in Tonga, which has a population of more than 100,000, is Judge Robert Schuster, infamous for handing down a flogging sentence to a thief recently.
Despite concerns about the Tongan government, New Zealand gives Tonga $17 million in aid ever year, but our Prime Minister doesn't have a problem with that.
"We've been working pretty closely with Tonga to make sure that the constitutional reform is successful, and from everything I hear progress is being made," John Key said.
A spokesperson for the Tongan government flatly denied to ONE News any claims of interference in the independence of the judiciary, and said a Tongan Royal Commission of Inquiry will look into the allegations.
Meanwhile, as Judge Ford prepares for his new role in New Zealand, he is restricted in what he can say about the controversy.
"Well, it's an interesting development in my career. Quite frankly I never thought that I would get back into the employment scene in Wellington."
His role in Tonga has been taken by Fijian Michael Scott.
