Judge may disqualify himself from case

National
Source:
The National,Tuesday July 5th, 2016

 By DAPHNE WANI 
Waigani National Court judge Justice George Manuhu says he will disqualify himself from hearing a case involving a  magistrate if the matter is listed for trial next month.
Manuhu made the statement in court yesterday when hearing the case of Magistrate Pinson Pindipia.
Pindipia is charged with perversely expressing jurisdiction with interest in the Paul Paraka case in 2014.
Lawyer Ben Nahupa, representing Pindipia, made an application to make the case a  priority.
Nahupa said his client’s case should be pushed up in the court listing and heard as he was a member of the judiciary.
Manuhu said all citizens had equal rights and the court could not handpick any case and set it before the date of the scheduled trial.
He stressed that everyone was the same when they were charged and should all be treated as equal.
He said unless a charge was specified under the Constitution, all were equal whether a magistrate, a leader, a big man or a small man.
Manuhu set Aug 1 for Pindipia’s next appearance for court mentioning.

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