The Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika has announced a Leadership Tribunal to enquire into the allegations of misconduct in office by the Member for Abau, Sir Dr Puka Temu.
The appointment follows a request by the Public Prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin under Section 27 (2) and S27 (7) (e) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
The tribunal will be chaired by Justice Panuel Mogish with tribunal members comprising senior magistrates Josephine Nidue and Wialo Sakatao.
The enquiry will commence at a time fixed and set by the tribunal.
The Minister for Health, Sir Puka Temu, was on the 5th October 2020 referred to the
Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission for alleged misconduct in
Office.
The subject of the Referral relates to the Leader’s:
i) Compilation of Statutory Business Policy Papers contrary to proper legal advice from the State Solicitor for the National Executive Council’s approval to award a contract for the construction of a multi-story government office complex; and
ii) Sponsoring Statutory Business Papers No.24/2015 and N0.79/2015 to the National Executive Council (NEC) and misleading the NEC to approve for variation to the Contract for the Central Government Office Complex contrary to the legal advice of the Solicitor General to comply with mandatory public tender requirements under the Public
Finance (Management) Act 1995.
The allegation of Misconduct in Office occurred between 2009 and 2015 when Sir Puka was the Minister for Lands & Physical Planning and then the Minister for Public Service.
