[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | The Pipite confirmation

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Comment from the Digest: It will be interesting to hear what the PM and vast majority of un-convicted MPs feel about Pipite's pardons and also Mr Willie Jimmy's viewpoint." Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | The Pipite confirmation by bobmakin Comment from the Digest: It will be interesting to hear what the PM and vast majority of un-convicted MPs feel about Pipite's pardons and also Mr Willie Jimmy's viewpoint. bobmakin | October 11, 2015 at 5:24 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-El Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1Zqo3Xw Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Pipite confirms pardons

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Vanuatu's acting president Marcellino Pipite has confirmed he has used his interim executive powers to pardon himself and 13 other MPs convicted of bribery. Liam Fox, ABC Mr Pipite told assembled media in his office in Port Vila that the pardon was to m" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Pipite confirms pardons by bobmakin Vanuatu's acting president Marcellino Pipite has confirmed he has used his interim executive powers to pardon himself and 13 other MPs convicted of bribery. Liam Fox, ABC Mr Pipite told assembled media in his office in Port Vila that the pardon was to maintain peace and unity in Vanuatu. He pointed to disturbances in Solomon Islands, Bougainville and Fiji as reasons behind maintaining the nearly one-third of parliamentary members convicted of bribery on Friday. When pressed on how the bribery convictions could spark instability, Mr Pipite failed to answer. The acting president said he had received advice from five lawyers to enact the pardons, and gazetted the decision on Sunday. The move was made possible after Mr Pipite, as parliamentary speaker, assumed the top job when president Baldwin Lonsdale left the country for a visit to Samoa. Under Vanuatu law, the speaker acts as president when the latter is travelling abroad, and has the power to pardon anyone, including himself. The ABC understands Mr Lonsdale is returning to Port Vila later this afternoon. Earlier, opposition MP Ralph Regenvanu told the ABC that police and the court's prosecution were aware of the move and were "working on it" — in regards to stopping the process. On Friday, the court found Pipite, deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses and 12 other MPs guilty of bribery charges. The deputy prime minister was found to have made cash payments amounting to 35 million vat ($452,000) to his fellow MPs last year, when they were all in opposition. Justice Mary Sey ruled that the payments were corruptly made, corruptly received, and designed to influence the MPs in their capacity as public officials. The MPs were facing a maximum of 10 years in jail and were due to be sentenced on October 22. In September, Vanuatu finance minister Willie Jimmy was convicted on two bribery charges, for breaching the leadership and penal codes, after entering a guilty plea. His conviction was not overturned in Sunday's announcement. bobmakin | October 11, 2015 at 5:18 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ek Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1R5e7g7 Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Pipite pardons 14 convicted Friday

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "The ABC in Australia reports the Vanuatu acting president in a bid to pardon himself and 13 others convicted of bribery. On Friday the court found parliamentary speaker Mr Pipite, deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses and 12 other MPs guilty of bribery " Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Pipite pardons 14 convicted Friday by bobmakin The ABC in Australia reports the Vanuatu acting president in a bid to pardon himself and 13 others convicted of bribery. On Friday the court found parliamentary speaker Mr Pipite, deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses and 12 other MPs guilty of bribery charges. The MPs were facing a maximum of 10 years in jail and were due to be sentenced on October 22. Under Vanuatu law, Mr Pipete as speaker of parliament also acts as president when the latter is travelling abroad, and has the power to pardon anyone, including himself. Tony Wilson, editor of the Vanuatu Independent newspaper, said he confirmed the pardons through a government MP. "Sometime, yesterday afternoon, the acting president of the nation, Marcellino Pipite, who is actually the speaker of the house of the parliament, pardoned himself and the other 13 MPs," he told the ABC. He said the move was made possible after Mr Pipite assumed the top job when president Baldwin Lonsdale left the country for a visit to Samoa. Opposition MP, Ralph Regenvanu, said nothing concrete had happened and that police and the prosecution were "working on it" — in regards to stopping the process. It is understood there was a government meeting on Saturday night where MPs met with prime minister Sato Kilman to decide how to keep the government intact. The ABC has been told that a press conference will be held in the speaker's office this afternoon. ABC bobmakin | October 11, 2015 at 12:51 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ej Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1LoF1j1 Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015 Here is the Judgement!

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Thanks to the hard-working Paclii team, thoughtfulness of the USP and Judiciary staff and owing to the considerable public interest, here is yesterday's judgement as given by Justice Mary Sey. If the attachment to this Digest bulletin comes un-stuck for " Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015 Here is the Judgement! by bobmakin Thanks to the hard-working Paclii team, thoughtfulness of the USP and Judiciary staff and owing to the considerable public interest, here is yesterday's judgement as given by Justice Mary Sey. If the attachment to this Digest bulletin comes un-stuck for any reason (most likely the IT incapacity of your editor) you can find it for yourself by going to paclii.org and choosing Vanuatu Supreme Court cases for October. You are looking for Criminal case 73 of 2015. It's there! Good weekend reading! Criminal case 73 of 2015.pdf bobmakin | October 10, 2015 at 1:10 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Eg Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1Rz9ko9 Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015: the Bribery Case

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Once again Vanuatu's judicial and legal systems and the separation of powers as required by the Constitution (which we were celebrating earlier this week) have proven themselves and the efficacy of the Westminster System we employ here. Fourteen Members o" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 10 October 2015: the Bribery Case by bobmakin Once again Vanuatu's judicial and legal systems and the separation of powers as required by the Constitution (which we were celebrating earlier this week) have proven themselves and the efficacy of the Westminster System we employ here. Fourteen Members of Parliament have been found guilty of the criminal charge of bribery and will be sentenced on 22 October. There were 112 items in evidence and 39 witnesses. Those found guilty included many of cabinet status and are Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil (seemingly the ring leader), Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite, Minister Serge Vohor, Minister Paul Telukluk, Silas Rouard Yatan, Tony Nari, John Amos, Arnold Prasad, Steven Kalsakau, Tony Wright, Sebastien Harry, Thomas Laken, Jonas James and Jean Yves Chabot. They were convicted as charged. Huge crowds surrounded the Dumbea court house orecincts and were splendidly managed by the Police. The Correctional Services were on hand to advise concerning prisoner accommodation although sentencing will only take place on 22 October. Presumably bail conditions apply still. The Constitutional case brought by MPs Tony Nari, John Amos, Sebastien Harry Thomas Laken, Paul Barthelemy Telukluk, Steven Kalsakau and Marcellino Pipite against the State can be read already at paclii.org on the internet. This has played a part in reducing the Bribery Case to matters and questions punishable under the Penal Code. It is hoped Justice Sey's complete and very detailed judgement will be similarly available on-line in the very near future. Never-the-less Radio Vanuatu and Daily Post have covered yesterday's case in some detail today. For those wanting the specifics of the judgement earliest it is recommended they purchase Daily Post early today, as supplies of the paper with the headline 14 GUILTY may well not prove adequate. There is certainly plenty to read this weekend. Gud wiken, safe in the knowledge that Vanuatu does have a fearless, effective and responsible judiciary. bobmakin | October 10, 2015 at 10:11 am | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ef Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1P4OuOP Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 9 October 2015

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Justice Fatiaki's concerns yesterday in the Constitutional case concerning bribery stem from the Ombudsman's Special Preliminary Report in the matter. Justice Fatiaki stated that the Constitutional Case applicants were not given the "opportunity to r" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | 9 October 2015 by bobmakin Justice Fatiaki's concerns yesterday in the Constitutional case concerning bribery stem from the Ombudsman's Special Preliminary Report in the matter. Justice Fatiaki stated that the Constitutional Case applicants were not given the "opportunity to reply to the complaints made against them under the Act." He therefore declared the Ombudsman Preliminary Report null and void. Justice Mary Sey hearing the Bribery Case was expected by Justice Fatiaki to have more to say on this matter today. The full report is carried by Daily Post on its front page today. Post also speaks of increased security in Port Vila today, the judgement in the Bribery Case being given this afternoon at 2 pm. Central School, adjacent to the Dumbea court house is closed for the day Radio Vanuatu informed the general public. The Prime Minister's Office is understood to have requested the Malvatumauri membership to ensure the safety of their people and properties. Transparency Vanuatu is calling on the government to strengthen the Public Accounts Committee. The PAC has been unable to perform because the government has not appointed its members to the Committee as yet. Reports of the PAC in April, on government and statutory body finances, were damning and Transparency's Chairman, Dr Willie Tokon, is appealing to the government to empower the PAC. (Daily Post) The Secretary General of the Citizenship Commission, John Enock Ware, is seriously questioning the whereabouts of some VT 540 million allegedly brought to the country by the Vanuatu Registry Services (VRS) company. Ware says this cannot be verified in bank records. Ware says the CIIP is formally closed and the Vanuatu Economic Rehabilitation Program (VERP) has taken its place. The State Law Office is preparing amendments to the Citizenship Act to give effect to the Real Estate Option to go before the next Parliament. The Airports Vanuatu Limited staff branch of the National Workers Union questions the composition of the Board of AVL. Composition of the Board differs from what is legally prescribed says the Union. A strike notice of the company remains in force. bobmakin | October 9, 2015 at 9:47 am | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ee Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1G0LwYX Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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[New post] Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Correction: Time of Bribery Case Judgement

WordPress.com bobmakin posted: "Judgement in this matter is at 2 pm tomorrow, not tomorrow morning as stated an hour ago." Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Vanuatu Daily Digest Vanuatu Daily News Digest | Correction: Time of Bribery Case Judgement by bobmakin Judgement in this matter is at 2 pm tomorrow, not tomorrow morning as stated an hour ago. bobmakin | October 8, 2015 at 5:22 pm | Categories: The News, Digested | URL: http://wp.me/p2A4RK-Ed Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Vanuatu Daily Digest. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://ift.tt/1ZeU7NU Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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