Basil leadership tribunal deferred to Oct 18

THE Leadership Tribunal investigating allegations of misconduct in office against suspended Deputy Prime Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil was adjourned to Oct 18.
The tribunal returned on Friday for Basil to give his plea in relation to five charges as chairman of the Bulolo district development authority he allegedly misappropriated K150,000 from the district operating account in 2015 and failed to declare it to the Ombudsman Commission the use of that money.
However, with consent from counsel representing Basil and Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin, the matter was adjourned for another two weeks, as Kaluwin informed the tribunal that the submission on plea might take time which could clash with another trial in which both lawyers were also involved in, that would commence today.
The members of the leadership tribunal are Justice Alan Kingsley David (chair), Chief Magistrate Mark Selefkariu and Magistrate Josephine Kilage.