Court orders Sir Michael to produce medical records

By JULIA DAIA BORE
THE five-judge Supreme Court panel has for the second time ordered Sir Michael Somare to produce his medical records for the special constitutional reference case.
The reference is on the legality of the Peter O’Neill government and the Grand Chief’s disqualification as the member for the East Sepik provincial seat.
The court, which sat until 6.40pm on Tuesday, directed that Sir Michael, as the eighth intervener, file personal affidavits and other relevant material to it by next Tuesday, now that he had joined as an intervener.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia presiding as head of the bench said: “Such records and reports shall include any treatments, consultations, examinations or hospitalisation since his departure from PNG to Singapore on March 24 up to and including Aug 2.”
The Supreme Court will convene hearing on the substantive matter on Oct 24.
During Tuesday’s hearing, lawyers for parties in the special reference, argued at length about the issues of admissible evidence by parties in the reference hearing.
Lawyers for the O’Neill government argued, that at one time during Sir Michael’s medical attention in Singapore, he was of “unsound mind”.
Manuel Varitimos for O’Neill and John Griffin for Belden Namah said Sir Michael had “suffered brain damage” according to a medical analysis while at the Singapore hospital.
Sir Salamo asked if that medical expert was Sir Michael’s own doctor who had examined him in Singapore.
Judge Bernard Sakora also asked if that medical expert had been by Sir Michael’s bedside on the day in question.