The Supreme Court has today delivered its final ruling in the long-running contempt case against Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, bringing the legal dispute to a conclusive end.
The proceedings stemmed from a National Court contempt action filed in Mt. Hagen, which went to full trial on October 21, 2025. The case originally involved Governor Powi, Provincial Assembly Clerk Leo Vali, former Provincial Administrator Jerry David, and several members of the Provincial Assembly.
Following the National Court’s decision, two separate appeals were lodged with the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel subsequently stayed the National Court proceedings while it reviewed the matter. Throughout 2026, the legal battle centered on procedural questions, including whether a properly “minuted court order” was required, as well as allegations of abuse of process as the case shuttled between the National and Supreme Courts.
On April 28, 2026, the Supreme Court heard final submissions from both parties in Mt. Hagen and reserved its judgment.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeal filed by Governor Powi’s legal team and set aside the National Court’s earlier ruling on the contempt matter and dismissed the case in its entirety.
With this decision, all contempt proceedings against Governor Powi and the other named parties have been formally dismissed. Governor Powi is declared the successful party.
The elated governor welcomed the decision and thanked the high court for upholding the Constitution.
He added that he did not have the power to appoint or remove any LLG president.
He said there has been a lot of confusing and misleading information being put out in the media.