Refuge camp case on trial

 AN application by Opposition Leader, Belden Namah in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Manus Processing Centre will proceed to hearing.

It follows a ruling by a five-man panel comprising deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, Justice David Cannings, Justice Ambeng Kandakasi and Justice Goodwin Poole saying Namah had standing to make the application. 

The matter returns to Court at a later date. 

Sakora and Cannings on behalf of the others handed down the 41-page ruling yesterday.

They said Namah had sufficient interest in the matter as he was a citizen who had a genuine concern and that he had raised significant constitutional issues. 

The respondents are the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Justice Minister Kerenga Kua.