Tribunal set for MP’s inquiry

By BOURA GORUKILA
CHIEF Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on Friday announced the appointment of a leadership tribunal to inquire into allegations of misconduct in office by Telefomin MP and Minister for Defence Solan Mirisim. The appointment followed a request made by public prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to the chief justice under section 27 (2) and 27 (7) (e) of the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of leadership. The tribunal will be chaired by Justice Les Gavara-Nanu. Other members of the tribunal are deputy chief magistrate (Lands) Mark Selefkariu and Josephine Kilage. Sir Gibbs said the tribunal would start its inquiry on a date and time to be fixed by the tribunal. He told The National that he had effectively appointed the tribunal last month but did not make it public because there were processes involved. “One challenge we face is serving documents but once the appropriate leaders are served, a public announcement is made,” he said. Sir Gibbs said he signed Mirisim’s documents on Friday because he was served the documents. Mirisim said his referral to the leadership tribunal was healthy for the office he occupied and the electorate he represented. He said it was a normal process for all Members of Parliament to go through when they failed to submit statements of annual returns. Meanwhile, Sir Gibbs said the tribunal of Abau MP Sir Dr Puka Temu was on hold because the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Panuel Mogish’s contract was yet to be renewed. He said the delay in renewal of the contract could affect the tribunal but how soon it would be renewed was a matter for the judicial legal commission.