Public Prosecutor requests appointment of Tribunal for Namah

The Public Prosecutor has requested the Chief Justice to appoint a Leadership Tribunal to investigate misconduct claims by Vanimo Green MP, Belden Namah.

Pondros Kaluwin said there is enough evidence to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal.

This includes a 2011 incident where Namah stormed the National Court building at Waigani and ordered the arrest of Chief Justice Salamo Injia during the political impasse.

He was accompanied by police and soldiers at the time where Judiciary Service staff were assaulted and property damaged.

It’s alleged also Namah failed to lodge his financial returns to the office of the Integrity of Political Parties and candidates and made late submission of his annual statements from 2007 to 2013.

Other allegations include the leader’s interference with administrative processes in suspending his District Administrator, Conrad Tilau.

Others are:

  • misapplied K10m seed money for Sandaun Free trade to purchase properties in Samoa

  • Failing to declare his property located on section 231, allotment 5 in the National Capital District to the Ombudsman Commission.

  • Providing misleading information to the Ombudsman Commission,

  • Failed to settle and declare his liability in his annual statement as well as failing to declare his debt of over K11, 259 to Hertz Rent-a-car from 2012.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton