David Lambourne, an Australian citizen, is in immigration dentation after a dramatic deportation attempt at Kiribati's international airport where Fiji Airlines pushed against the government, refusing to fly the judge against his will.
Attempts to deport a Kiribati High Court judge back to Australia have led to a lengthy airport stand-off, with Justice David Lambourne having since been placed in immigration detention.The Kiribati government was attempting to deport one of its most senior judges despite a court order preventing his removalThe Australian is a long-time resident of the Pacific nation and married to the opposition leaderHe was suspended from his job by the government in May over alleged misconduct.
Despite the court order, police and immigration officers at the airport tried to force him to board the flight, according to Justice Lambourne and a local journalist present at the scene. "I was fortunate that I had some very good lawyers who were able to make contact with the legal team at Fiji Airways," Justice Lambourne told the ABC as he was being taken to detention.
Justice Lambourne, who has lived in Kiribati for 27 years and is married to the leader of its opposition, Tessie Lambourne, was suspended in May after the government alleged he had failed to carry out his duties. In June this year, when Chief Justice William Hastings was due to preside over an appeal made by Justice Lambourne, the government suspended Justice Hastings.The ABC has reached out to the Kiribati government for comment.
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