Judge referred for alleged misconduct

National

The Ombudsman Commission has referred Senior Judge Sir Bernard Sakora to the Public Prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.
Chief Ombudsman Michael Dick and Ombudsman Richard Pagen, in a media statement, said the commission had investigated alleged misconduct in office by Sir Bernard which arose from his duties and responsibilities under section 27 of the Constitution on duties and responsibilities of leadership.
“The referral is in the hands of the Public Prosecutor (Pondros Kaluwin) who has the discretion to bring or decline to bring proceedings under the Leadership Code for alleged misconduct in office in accordance with section 177 (1) (b) of the Constitution,” the Commission said in the statement.
“After being satisfied for the purposes of Section 29 (1) of the Constitution and section 17 (d), 20 (4) and 27 (1) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership that there is a prima facie case that Sir Bernard has been guilty of misconduct in office, the commission decided to refer the leader to the Public Prosecutor for his independent deliberations under section 177 (1) (b) of the Constitution.”
The commission had notified Sir Bernard of its intention to refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor as required by section 20 (2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
Sir Bernard is the second high-ranking government official to be referred to the Public Prosecutor this week following Auditor-General Philip Nauga’s referral.