Tribunal forbid further adjournment

THE Leadership Tribunal hearing misconduct in office charges against Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta will not entertain any further adjournment.
Tribunal chairman and National Court judge Justice Timothy Hinchliffe yesterday reiterated to counsel, Rimbink Pato for Mr Haiveta and Camillus Sambua for Public Prosecutor that the panel, consisting of senior magistrates Steven Abisae, Mark Pipaka and himself, would not grant any more adjournment.
Both Messrs Pato and Sambua sought for an adjournment to next Tuesday in order to prepare for the actual start of proceedings.
They have to agree on issues and the manner in which the evidence they intend to produce during discussions this weekend.
Mr Pato told the tribunal that since Mr Sambua informed the tribunal on Tuesday that he would not be available for mention of his client as he had another matter to attend to in Kokopo, “both Mr Sambua and I were not prepared to proceed with the hearing”.
The tribunal adjourned the matter to next Tuesday for mention.
Mr Haiveta was referred to the Public Prosecutor on four counts of alleged misconduct in office.