Aitape-Lumi MP

Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika today announced the appointment of a Leadership Tribunal to inquire into allegations against Pruaitch.

The appointment follows a request by the Public Prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin, to the Chief Justice under Section 27(2) and 27(7)(e) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.

The Tribunal is to be chaired by Justice Nicholas Miviri while its other members are senior magistrates Michael Apie’e and Nancy Lipai.

The date of inquiry will be set by the Tribunal.

It was a show of solidarity, as the National Alliance Leader, Pruaitch was accompanied by the father of the nation, Sir Michael Somare, yesterday (September 5) in court.

A tribunal, appointed in February 2010 over allegations of misconduct in office, resumed yesterday morning where preliminary issues were raised before members of the tribunal by Pruaitch’s lawyer, Greg Sheppard.

Issues relating to the jurisdiction of the tribunal were raised as well as certain documents that will be used during the hearing.

This comes after the Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, today announced the appointment of two senior magistrates who will assist Chairman of the Leadership Tribunal and Deputy Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika, to enquire into the misconduct allegations against Pruaitch.

The Aitape-Lumi MP was referred by the Ombudsman Commission in 2008 to the tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office following investigations.