Tribunal ordered to sit

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MAPRIK MP John Simon appeared before a leadership tribunal in Waigani following a Supreme Court order that the tribunal proceed with its inquiry into allegations of official corruption against him.
The tribunal is made up of Justice Nicholas Miviri and magistrates Michael Apie’e and Nancy Lipai.
It was suspended on July 15 pending a decision by the Supreme Court on matters raised by Simon through his lawyer Greg Sheppard regarding the ombudsman commission quorum.
A five-man Supreme Court bench consisting of Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi and Justice Ellenas Batari, Justice David Cannings, Justice Allen David and Justice Derek Hartshorn upheld submissions by the public prosecutor and the ombudsman commission that two members of the commission could decide on referring someone to the tribunal
The bench on Sept 27 ordered the tribunal return to proceed.
Meanwhile the tribunal yesterday ordered Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to serve submissions to Sheppard and that Sheppard respond to the submissions.
The matter returns today.