MP referred to public prosecutor for alleged misconduct

THE Ombudsman Commission has referred an MP in South Bougainville to the Public Prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.
Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and Ombudsman Kevin Kepore in a statement said the commission had conducted an investigation and granted Makis constituency MP John Vianney Kepas “the right to be heard”.
The statement said Kepas failed to respond to their investigations.
But the commission determined that he should be referred for misconduct in office.
“As required by section 20(2) of the organic law on the duties and responsibilities of leadership, the commission has notified Kepas of its intention to refer the matter to the public prosecutor,” they said.
“After being satisfied that there is a prima facie case that Kepas has been guilty of misconduct in office, the commission decided to refer the matter to the public prosecutor for his independent deliberations.”
They said the public prosecutor had the discretion to bring or decline to bring proceedings under the Leadership Code for alleged misconduct in office.