Somare to Abide by Tribunal Ruling

Somare to Abide by Tribunal Ruling
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201103/3173733.htm

PORT MORESBY (Radio Australia/Pacific Media Watch): The lawyer for Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, says Somare will abide by a tribunal decision to suspend him from office for two weeks, Radio Australia reports.

The suspension was announced yesterday as punishment after a leadership tribunal found Somare guilty of 13 counts of filing late or incomplete financial returns to the Ombudsman Commission.

Somare's lawyer, Kerenga Kua, says the Prime Minister will serve out the two-week term.

"You need to follow through - if you have rights that you want to pursue then you've got to follow the procedures that are prescribed by law," he said.

"And if by doing so it takes a while, nobody can be blamed for it - that's the system taking its course."

Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal will stand in as leader until Sir Michael is allowed to return to the post.

ENDS

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