Papua New Guinea opposition leader ruled suspended as case against PM dismissed

James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, speaks during a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Monday, July 22, 2019. Photographer: Mark Graham/Bloomberg

PORT MORESBY, Jun 1, 2020, RNZ. Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court has dismissed a case filed by Belden Namah questioning the constitutionality of James Marape’s election as prime minister last year and says Mr Namah is still suspended as an MP, Radio New Zealand reported.

The National newspaper reported the court had ruled Mr Namah was “suspended from duty” when he was referred to the Leadership Tribunal in October 2017 for misconduct in office.

The following year the tribunal found him guilty of misconduct in office for storming a courtroom in 2012 where then chief justice Sir Salamo Injia was presiding over matters.

In the company of police officers and soldiers, Mr Namah interrupted the court session and demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Justice

The tribunal recommended he be dismissed from office.

However Mr Namah was granted a stay order by the National Court , continued to serve as Vanimo-Green MP and was last year elected Opposition Leader.

He filed the case against Mr Marape on 30 March.

The five-man Supreme Court bench ruled the stay order on the Leadership Tribunal did not stop Mr Namah’s suspension.

Share it


Exclusive: Beyond the Covid-19 world's coverage