A leadership tribunal that was announced to investigate allegations of misconduct in office against the Member for Vanimo-Green Open, Belden Namah, is expected to commence tomorrow.
This is the tribunal appointment that was announced on September 28 by Acting Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika.
The appointment follows a request made by the Public Prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin, in his letter to the Chief Justice on November 8, 2016.
A previous tribunal appointed against the leader has not progressed far, due to a Supreme Court Reference, which arose from the actual appointment process of the tribunal.
Sir Gibbs explained that this appointment is a new one, following a request by the Public Prosecutor.
The allegations against Namah relate to various matters, including late annual returns to the Ombudsman Commission, the leader’s failure to lodge financial returns to the office of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission, misappropriation of public funds, failing to pay his personal debts and for storming into the court room of the Supreme Court and demanding the arrest of the Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, and assault of court staff in the court room.
The new tribunal will be chaired by Justice Terrence Higgins and Senior Magistrates, Patricia Tivese and Alex Kalandi.