Proceeds must be heard: Chair

By BOURA GORUKILA
LEADERSHIP Tribunal chairman Justice Les Gavara Nanu has called on all to ensure that the proceeds against Telefomin MP and Defence Minister Solan Mirisim are heard tomorrow.
Justice Nanu made the call after allowing another adjournment on Friday requested by David Kuvi because Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin was down with flu.
Counsel Greg Sheppard, representing Mirisim, did not have any objections to the postponement.
“This is the third adjournment,” Justice Nanu said.
“I call on all parties to ensure that the tribunal proceeds is on Tuesday.
“The tribunal should be completed quickly because two members of the tribunal are also involved in another tribunal.
“They are waiting for this tribunal to complete its investigations in order for the other matter to proceed.
“This will be the last adjournment.
“By tomorrow, we should take the pleas to the charges.”
He also told Sheppard to have his client prepared to take his pleas.
“Once the pleas are taken, we will expect the prosecution to present its evidence and a trial be called,” he said.
“There should not be any other adjournments.
“Witnesses from all sides should be available to give evidence as and when required until the tribunal concludes its investigations.”
Mirisim has been suspended from performing his electoral and ministerial duties after the public prosecutor presented statement of reasons with a reference to the tribunal for it to enquire into 22 allegations of misconduct in office.
Meanwhile, before the start of the tribunal on Friday, a woman who sat next to Mirisim in the court room walked to the security guards manning the court room to have The National reporter removed from the court room at the request of the minister’s office.
The reporter told the security guards that she was not going outside because there was no story outside.
The guard then said: “It is all up to you.
“We are just relaying the message.”