CJ will still face probe

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has backed his government's decision to revoke a suspension on the nation's chief justice.

But the prime minister is pledging an investigation will continue as he returns from APEC to the aftermath of an historic political-judicial battle.

On Tuesday, as the Supreme Court officially released Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat on bail pending a December 12 hearing for contempt, Mr O'Neill said he supported cabinet's decision to suspend and then rescind the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

However, Mr O'Neill says an investigation into Sir Salamo's alleged financial misconduct will be handed over to government agencies.

"Many of those issues are very serious in nature and they will be referred back into the bureaucracy and the appropriate agencies of government to carry out the responsible investigation and the task of revealing the case itself," he said.

"The government stands together on the decisions it has taken."

The allegations are that Sir Salamo mishandled the deed to a dead judge's estate as well as mismanagement of court funds, but they came as the chief justice was gearing up to hand down a decision on the constitutionality of how Mr O'Neill was elected on August 2.

"It is suicidal, when there is this kind of decision pending, when we take these kind of decisions, but we pledge to the nation we will do them without fear or favour," Mr O'Neill said.

"There are no exceptions to any individual in positions of responsibility."

On Thursday, while Mr O'Neill was away in Hawaii for the APEC summit, Mr Namah announced the suspension of Sir Salamo pending an investigation by a tribunal of former judges into the estate of the late Justice Timothy Hinchcliffe.

The next day, the Supreme Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Namah and Dr Marat.

It wasn't until Monday that the pair presented themselves for arrest at Port Moresby's police headquarters, before being transferred to the notoriously tough Boroko jail cells where they were quickly granted bail.

On Tuesday, Sir Salamo ordered them back to court, where he released them on 5000 kina ($A230) bail with the promise neither would attempt to interfere in the upcoming constitutional challenge decision.

the Port Moresby-based The National reported on Tuesday that all three judges nominated to the tribunal to investigate Sir Salamo had refused on ethical grounds.

In a clear sign of the strain PNG's ongoing political court battles are causing, Mr Namah's lawyer Manuel Varitimos silently wept in court after reading an affidavit by the deputy PM in which he said he regretted the suspension order being issued and strongly argued for it to be rescinded.

Derrick Wood, lawyer for Sir Salamo's co-accused, court registrar Ian Augerea, told the court that lawyers had been overcome by the stress of the past few days and the ongoing constitutional battle.

"They are clearly men of integrity," Mr Wood said.



AAP

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