Namah reveals new evidence against CJ

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By DEMAS TIEN
VANIMO Green MP Belden Namah revealed new evidence in court yesterday against Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia regarding his alleged apprehension of bias and conflict of interest in dealing with Namah’s leadership tribunal case.
The evidence included a National Executive Council decision published on Feb 1, 2012, regarding the suspension of the chief justice, a court order made the by Supreme Court on Feb 2, 2012 staying the suspension of the chief justice and a memorandum written by Justice Nicholas Kirriwom on March 10, 2012, to other judges urging them to work together against the O’Neill-Namah government.
Lawyer Laias Kandi, representing the public prosecutor, objected to the new evidence but his objections were refused.
The published decision of the NEC, the court order of Feb 2, 2011, the memorandum, an order issued by Justice Sir Bernard Sakora for the arrest of Namah and Dr Allan Marat and other new materials were admitted as evidence.
Namah said after the NEC decision on Nov 2011, suspending the chief justice, he held a press conference with Marat to address the country about the suspension of the chief justice.
He said after the press conference, Justice Sakora issued an order for his arrest with Marat. He said they were arrested and charged with contempt of court and were released on K5000 police bail.
He said on Feb 1, 2012, a gazettal notice was published about the suspension of the chief justice.
He said on the next day (Feb 2, 2012), a three-man bench including the chief justice stayed the suspension of the chief justice.
Namah said he was concerned about the involvement of chief justice in presiding over the matter regarding his suspension and stayed it.
He said he held a press conference to express his views regarding the conduct of the chief justice.
Namah said after he called the press conference, a five-man bench of the Supreme Court, comprising the chief justice, deputy chief justice, Justice Sakora, Justice Kirriwom and Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, made another order for Namah’s arrest because he breached a bail condition.
A court document dated May 23, 2012, signed by Sir Salamo ordering the arrest of Namah because he was in a media conference was admitted into evidence by the court yesterday.
He said after the chief justice ordered for his arrest, he consulted the prime minister and other cabinet members and they agree to go to the court house and tell the chief justice that he was not doing the right thing.
He said he involved the police and they walked into a courtroom where the chief justice was presiding and told him that what he was doing was wrong.
He said he had appologised to the chief justice and the members of the judiciary and the nation about his conduct.
He said the contempt charges were withdrawn.
But he said he was surprised to see the contempt allegation in one of the allegations leveled against him in his leadership tribunal.