Supreme Court

The ruling came on a request filed by investigators Sept. 11 who said they wanted to question Silva about possible involvement in the scheme. Under Brazilian law, all federal politicians and some at other levels can be investigated only if the Supreme Court approves the inquiry.

His lawyers filed the appeal application last week after he was convicted for conspiracy and the misappropriation of K2.65 million on May 21.

He was sentenced to two years in prison with a fully suspended jail term and placed on two years good behavor bond by the Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on August 14.

Maladina's lawyers told Justice Stephen Kassman this morning (September 21) that the appeal was filed and an appeal book also served to the Public Prosecutors office.

Speaking to reporters outside the Court house, Kavo said it has been a long 5 year battle and wait for his people, supporters and family.

He said today’s decision was in the best interest of his province and with the court battle over he can now concentrate on the development of the next big LNG project that will be hosted in his province.

He said the legal battle cost the state a lot of money.

 And he issued a call to police to do their job without compromise.

In a sharply divided 4-3 ruling, the court declared the death penalty violates the state's constitution, "no longer comports with contemporary standards of decency and no longer serves any legitimate penological purpose."

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia who is sitting as a single Supreme Court judge refused and dismissed Maladina’s application today.

The bid was for an interim order to stay the criminal proceedings in the National Court pending determination of an appeal against his conviction.

Leave was granted on July 5 to appeal against his conviction on the ground that the trial judge convicted the prisoner who is out on bail on circumstantial or indirect evidence before his court.

 Maladina is seeking an interim order to put off his sentencing that is scheduled for July 15 before Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika.

He went before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia who is sitting as a single Supreme Court judge on July 6 seeking a stay against the National Court sentencing of him next Wednesday.

His application comes after the Supreme Court on Friday July 3 granted leave to Maladina to appeal his conviction on the ground that the trial judge, Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, convicted Maladina on indirect evidence.

 Maladina went before the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia this afternoon (July 6) seeking a stay against the National Court sentencing him on July 15.

Sir Salamo will make a ruling on the application on Wednesday (July 08).

The Chief Justice, in hearing the application from Maladina’s lawyer Greg Sheppard, said such application was the first of such going before the Supreme Court before sentencing in his 20 year experience at the courts.

The president, in a Rose Garden statement, said the court ruling has "made our union a little more perfect."

The Supreme Court this week declared a decision by the newly-appointed speaker of parliament, Marcellino Pipite, to rule out the opposition's motion of no confidence against the new prime minister Sato Kilman, and ordered parliament to reconvene on Tuesday to hear it.
 

"Today, after more than 50 votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law, after a presidential election based in part on preserving or repealing this law, after multiple challenges to this law before the Supreme Court — the Affordable Care Act is here to stay." — Obama, speaking in the Rose Garden.