CHIEF JUSTICE BLOCKED FROM ENTERING CHAMBERS

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Chief Justice was not allowed into the court house this morning by the police. The Acting CJ was allowed in. He is now in control of the courts. It is likely that the call for the relevant parties to appear on Tuesday will be rescinded.

The political fiasco involving the three arms of the government is deepening. Armed policemen today prevented Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, access to the court house at Waigani as he was going to work. In a statement, Sir Salamo says the policemen, led by Deputy Commissioner Simon Kauba disregarded a copy of the Supreme Court order which stayed the suspension of Sir Salamo. 

 A three-men bench, headed by Sir Salamo himself late yesterday, stayed an earlier Cabinet decision to suspend Sir Salamo for alleged misconduct in office. The stay order will be in place pending contempt charges to be laid against Peter O'Neill, his NEC and certain lawyers. But Deputy Prime Minister, Belden Namah, justified the police action saying Sir Salamo had compromised the Chief Justice position by heading the three men bench when he should not.

Sir Salamo on the other hand says he was not notified of any allegations against him nor was he given any opportunity to be heard before Cabinet decided to suspend him and will continue to perform his duties. This is the second time the government has tried to suspend the Chief Justice

Sir Salamoa Injia has stated in a Press Release that he will continue to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice until such time as a court of competent jurisdiction discharges the court order. 

With regards to the suspension, Sir Salamoa says he was not notified of any allegations of misconduct against him and not given an opportunity to be heard before the decision to suspend him from office was made by the NEC. 

After the announcing the suspension yesterday during a Press Conference, Parliament elects PM, Peter ONIEL, says Deputy Chief Justice, Gibbs Salika is now the Acting CJ. Meanwhile, Deputy PM, under the ONIEL/NAMA Government, Belden NAMAH this morning told media representatives that a Deputy Chief Justice will be appointed soon.