DEPUTY Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo Sam Basil has been suspended under Section 27 of the Organic Law on duties and responsibilities of leadership.
Mr. Basil’s suspension comes after references and reasons for his tribunal were presented by the Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to Justice Allan David at the National Court on Friday, September 10.
Mr Basil was initially referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission on December 1, 2020 on five allegations of misconduct in office.
The appointment of the tribunal to look into the allegation of misconduct in office by the leader was announced by the Chief Justice in June this year.
The tribunal was from a request made by the Public Prosecutor to the Chief Justice under Section 27 of the Organic Law on duties and responsibilities of leadership. The allegations were then arranged under three categories from periods of March 2013 to September 2018.
In the first category it was alleged that Mr. Basil had interfered with the decision on the Central Supplies and Tenders Board and the failure to implement the construction of Wau Commercial and District Headquarters between 2013 and 2018.
The second category was that Mr. Basil used public office for personal benefit in December 2014 while final category alleged Mr. Basil of failure to declare to the Ombudsman Commission the use of K150,000 from the Bulolo District operating account.
Justice Allan David adjourned the tribunal to October 1 for Mr. Basil to take his plea in response to his allegations.
Mr. Basil who is suspended with full pay pending the outcome of his tribunal said he will fight vigorously to clear his name.
