OC refers Saonu after probe

THE Ombudsman Commission has referred Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu to the Public Prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office. Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and Ombudsman Kevin Kepore, in a statement yesterday, said the referral was in the hands of Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin who had the discretion to bring or decline proceedings against Saonu under the leadership code.Pagen and Kepore said the Ombudsman Commission conducted an investigation and had granted Saonu a right to be heard to which Saonu responded. But the Ombudsman Commission did not give details on the nature of the allegations levelled against Saonu. Pagen and Kepore said after being satisfied for the purposes of Section 29 (1) of the Constitution and Section 17 (d) 20 (4) and 27 (1) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership that there was a prima facie case against Saonu. “As required by section 20 (2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership the Commission notified Saonu on June 9 of its intention to refer the matter to (the) public prosecutor,” Pagen said.