Vanimo Green MP Belden Namah

A three-judge Supreme Court bench found that there was no conflict of interest and no reasonable apprehension of bias when he appointed members of the tribunal to investigate the allegations of misconduct in office.

Namah’s lawyer Greg Sheppard had earlier argued in court that Sir Salamo, in appointing a leadership tribunal against Namah, was unlawful as the Chief Justice was involved in the referral as well as one of the 10 allegations against Namah.

Namah said Commissioner Baki must resign and save the police force from further harm and disgrace and save himself and his personal integrity.

Namah stated that he did not expect to hear about what the Commissioner is doing and not doing as the holder of a very important and significant constitutional office.

Baki has signed affidavits against his own policemen from the fraud office in certain pending cases, which is very unusual.

The application was filed on Dec 17, 2015 seeking interlocutory injunction orders as well as the referral of certain constitutional questions to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

The motion was moved in court on Dec 29, 2015 however acting Judge Danjo Koeget could not hear the application as it was served to the respondents the day before the matter came to court.

It also seeks a stay of the Leadership Tribunal inquiry against Namah from proceeding after the 2016 legal year commences in February. 

 Sir Salamo appointed the tribunal on October 9. It will consist of Justice Goodwin Poole as chairman and two senior magistrates,  Mark Selefkaru and Ernest Wilmont.

The appointment by the Chief Justice comes after Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin made a request on August 14.

Namah is facing 15 allegations of misconduct in office.