Judge rules against Michael Somare keeping seat in PNG parliament

Michael Somare has lost his bid to keep his seat in Papua New Guinea's parliament after a National Court judge ruled against the former prime minister's application for an injunction against his dismissal.

Judge Allen David ruled yesterday he was unwilling to interfere in the processes of parliament and the matter was likely to form part of a Supreme Court case.

"I am not minded to interfere with the processes of parliament," Judge David told the court. "The Supreme Court is the best court to decide these issues."

Sir Michael had been seeking an injunction against his dumping from his East Sepik seat this month by Speaker Jeffery Nape, who said the former prime minister had missed three consecutive sittings of parliament - grounds for dismissal under PNG law.

Outside the court yesterday, Sir Michael's lawyer, Kerenga Kua, said his client would appeal against the ruling.
"We will be filing an application tomorrow for the Grand Chief to intervene in the Supreme Court reference, where hopefully all these questions can be washed up together," he said.

The executive of the National Alliance - the party Sir Michael headed - has brought a separate Supreme Court case against the constitutionality of the dismissal of the Somare government on August 2, when parliament voted 70 to 24 to form a new government under Peter O'Neill.

Sir Michael will join the NA executive and Sam Abal, who was acting prime minister in the Somare government, in their action against the O'Neill government.

Sir Michael is expected to return to PNG on Friday, after flying to Singapore for a medical check-up last week, The National newspaper reported.

He had only just returned to PNG a fortnight earlier following a five-month absence, when he underwent three heart operations in Singapore.

AAP

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