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| Peter O'Neill [Google Pics]
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Referral of the Prime Minister to a Leadership Tribunal was
confirmed. The news was a ‘Breaking News’ on Sharp Talk. It was interesting to
note that people close to the prime minister didn’t know.
Yet, this particular referral process has taken three
months. Ombudsman Commission (OC) referred Peter O’Neill on Tuesday 12th of August, 2014.
According to the Public Prosecutor the initial referral did not
contain sufficient evidence, credible to request the Chief Justice to appoint a
Leadership Tribunal. OC has now provided cogent evidence, convincing to see this judicial process through.
Peter O’Neill referral is based on 3 allegations reported in the Post Courier on 13th August 2014:
The Prime Minister
failed to comply with administrative and financial processes including the
normal overseas borrowing process in the approval of the K3 billion loan from
the Union Bank of Switzerland AF (Australia Branch);
The leader having made
a media release on the sacking of Mr Don Polye as the Minister for Treasury by
saying that Mr Don Polye caused instability in the Government, when the actual
reason was to do with Mr Polye’s refusal to sign the UBS Loan deal which the
Prime Minister had unilaterally approved on March 6, 2014; and
The leader made a
misleading statement on EMTV that he had obtained advice from the state
agencies including Bank of Papua New Guinea on the UBS loan to purchase Oil
Search shares, which was contrary to the evidence received.
Until Friday 14th 2014, no one has thought the Public Prosecutor would have made this bold move. To request Chief Justice to call for a Leadership Tribunal is a step in the right direction. The tribunal will deliberate
on the process and transparency surrounding the K3 billion loan from Union
Bank of Switzerland, the UBS.
Has the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, complied with due process? Has he sacked Don Polye for the right reason? Has he obtained advise from appropriate institutions before signing off the loan? Those questions will be tested against the OCs evidence.
Facing the evidence is what Peter O'Neill has dreaded. That's his great
phobia. He must subject himself to this referral. He can only proclaim his innocence by
proving to the contrary any evidence provided to a Leadership Tribunal by the OC.