Kiwi judge joins Sakora’s case hearing

A former judge of the Court of Appeal and High Court of New Zealand and two judges from PNG will preside over the leadership tribunal case of Justice Sir Bernard Sakora in Waigani today.
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven said that the tribunal members would be Justice Sir Bruce Robertson, Justice William Neill and Justice Lawrence Kangwia.
Sir Bruce is a former judge of the Court of Appeal and High Court of New Zealand, Justice Neill is the judge based in Goroka and Justice Kangwia is the judge based in Kavieng.
Sir Bruce was officially sworn as the chairman of the tribunal by Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae at the Government House on Friday.
Steven on behalf of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) said the tribunal was appointed pursuant to Section 180(1)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea (‘Constitution’) to investigate and report to the JLSC if Sir Bernard should be removed from the Office of a Judge pursuant to Section 178(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Steven said the subject matter of investigation was delayed judgments in cases heard and reserved for decisions.
He said the decision to appoint the tribunal was made by the JLSC under the chairmanship of former Attorney-General Ano Pala and could not be effected before he left office.
According to Steven, the suspension of Sir Bernard from his duties as a judge of the National and Supreme Courts of PNG would be until the JLSC received a report from the tribunal.
The tribunal will convene and start its hearing  at the Waigani National Court today at 9.30am.