Serious concerns have been raised on the accountability and competency of certain Magistrates in the country in the inquiry report into the Magistrates Court.
The Inquiry report was made public yesterday with former High Court Judge and Inquiry Commissioner John Connors making 27 recommendations to improve services within the Magistrates court.
At a press conference late yesterday, Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed that Inquiry has raised serious concerns on the appointments of Magistrates saying that it has been found that some practicing Magistrates in Fiji have never served on the bar as a lawyer.
In his report, Connors recommends that the persons to be appointed as Magistrates to be properly scrutinized by a thorough interview process. Connors notes in his report that there is no history of any interview process for the appointment of Judges.
It is also recommended that all Magistrates be moved from their existing court each three years to minimize the risk of inappropriate associations forming.
The Inquiry also raises concerns on lawyers, Prosecutors and members of the Public visiting Magistrates in their chambers. Connors has recommended that such practice be stopped ad all contact with Magistrates to be in the court room with operating sound recording systems.
Connors said there is no purpose to be served by persons attending upon Magistrates in Chambers and such attendances leaf to the suggestion of impropriety.
Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted that amongst the concerns raised include that some Magistrates are also alleged to be running court proceedings at their leisure.
The Interim Attorney General said the Volume One of the Inquiry report will be released to the public once it has been looked at by the Judicial Service Commission, Criminal Justice Department, the Chief Magistrate and the Acting Chief Justice who will take appropriate actions where required.
Report Questions Appointment of Magistrates
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