Salesi Temo is a Fijian jurist. In January 2023 he was appointed acting Chief Justice of Fiji.

Salesi Temo
Chief Justice of Fiji
Assumed office
30 January 2023
Acting
Preceded byKamal Kumar

Temo worked as a magistrate, and played a prominent role in prosecutions following the 2000 Fijian coup d'état.[1][2][3] He continued in office after the 2006 Fijian coup d'état, and accepted reappointment following the military regime's abrogation of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji during the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis.[4] In June 2009 he was appointed to the High Court of Fiji as an acting Puisne judge by the military regime.[5]

In September 2011 he criticised the New Zealand government for refusing to cooperate with Fiji's military regime or extradite people wanted for political offences by the dictatorship.[6]

On 30 January 2023 he was appointed acting chief justice following the suspension of Kamal Kumar for misbehaviour.[7][8]

Honours

edit

In October 2020, he was awarded the 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal for his services to the judiciary.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Fiji magistrate concerned about attitude of some soldiers". RNZ. 11 August 2003. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. ^ "18 Fiji landowners plead guilty in Monasavu seizure after coup". RNZ. 13 November 2002. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Nine Fiji villagers jailed for seizing power installations during coup". RNZ. 27 June 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Eight Fiji magistrates back as regime struggles to rebuild judiciary". RNZ. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Fiji judiciary bolstered with more appointments". RNZ. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. ^ "New Zealand denies claims it's biased towards Fiji's judiciary". RNZ. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Justice Kumar suspended; Justice Temo to act as Chief Justice". Fiji Times. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. ^ "President suspends Chief Justice Kamal Kumar after complaints of misbehaviour". Fiji Village. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. ^ "High Court Judges Daniel Goundar And Salesi Temo Among Those Recognised For Role In Our Judiciary". Fiji Sun. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.