Leadership tribunal hearing against Sir Puka today

A LEADERSHIP tribunal looking into allegations of misconduct in office by suspended Abau MP Sir Puka Temu has been adjourned for hearing today at the National Court.
Francis Popeu, counsel assisting the tribunal from the public prosecutor’s office, told the tribunal that he had filed and served the affidavits of Chief Ombudsman Commissioner Richard Pagen, State Solicitor Daniel Rolpagarea, National Executive Council secretary Grace So’on and a Babaga Naime of the Central Supply and Tenders Board.
Lawyer Greg Sheppard of Young & Williams, representing Sir Puka, said they would need time to go through the affidavits and asked for an adjournment.
Popeu also asked for a change on the reference on the first allegation against Sir Puka.
The allegation was that Sir Puka had submitted a policy submission paper in 2013 to the National Executive Council (NEC) that was contrary to legal advice provided by the State Solicitor in respect to the awarding of a contract for refurbishment and construction of the Central Government office complex to a Naime Investment Ltd.
Furthermore, he submitted three policy submission papers to the NEC contrary to legal advice provided by the State Solicitor in respect to the awarding of a contract for refurbishment and construction of the Central Government office complex to a Central Lands Ltd.
Popeu sought for a change of name from the Central Government office complex to a multi-storey government office complex and Naime Investment Ltd to a Naima Investment Ltd.
Sheppard objected to the application. Members of the tribunal, however, allowed for the change as the tribunal was still in its preliminary stage.