Hughes, who has had a 30-year career with the AFP, was appointed two years ago by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to head the UN’s policing wing.
He was Fiji’s Police Commissioner from 2003 until 2006 when his family left Fiji after the police received threats relating to the security of his family.
Hughes is believed to be prominent on the shortlist to replace Keelty, along with a current deputy commissioner, Tony Negus, and a former deputy commissioner, John Lawler, who four months ago was appointed head of the Australian Crime Commission.
Nick Kaldas, former deputy police commissioner in NSW and one-time head of the state’s counter-terrorism operations, is also believed to have been interviewed for the job.
Kaldas was appointed at the end of last year to lead the UN’s investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005.
A fifth possible contender is thought to be Graham Ashton, 47, who left the AFP in 2004 to take up the job as deputy head of the Victorian Office of Police Integrity.
A government source confirmed yesterday that the interviews, which were carried out by the head of the federal Attorney-General’s Department, Roger Wilkins, and head of the Prime Minister’s department, Terry Moran, have now been completed.
An announcement of the successful candidate is expected within two to three weeks. Hughes and Negus are considered by many expert observers to be the leading contenders.
