COURT RULES AGAINST DPM’s JUDICIAL REVIEW

THE National Court in Waigani has dismissed a Judicial Review filed by the Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, seeking to stop ongoing investigation by the Ombudsman Commission.

Rosso, who is the Lae MP and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning was allegedly implicated and referred to the Leadership Tribunal for further investigation in relation to undeclared incomes in his Annual Statements during 2016, which Rosso failed to reveal.

Presiding judge Justice Paulus Dowa further added that the investigative processes under the Leadership Code cannot be prematurely halted as it will determine whether there was a misconduct in the office for him to refer to the Public Prosecutor.

Justice Dowa ruled that it is inappropriate to granting a judicial review as it will interfere with the proper administration of the Leadership Code and prejudice the lawful operations of the Ombudsman Commission.

The matter was challenged at the Courts after DPM Rosso alleged that the ongoing investigations are motivated by bad faith, personal bias and improper motives.

Rosso argued that the investigation was fast-tracked after he refused to intervene in a private property dispute between Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and his daughter and Emma Rosso.