Vanuatu Supreme Court

Ambassador Yauvoli said “This landmark judgement is important not only for the MSG but also for other organisations and missions based in Port Vila, in particular on how the Diplomatic Immunities are to be applied in Vanuatu.”

In the month of February 2017, Mr Molean Kilepak, the former Deputy Director General lodged a legal action against the MSG and the DG.

The case was highly publicised locally and regionally, a calculated move that was perceived to politize the issue and rubbish the good name and reputation of the Organisation and the Director General. 

The 14 men, who were jailed last year for taking bribes to cross the floor, had sought to have the convictions overturned by claiming parliamentary immunity.

They told the court that they were attending a session of Parliament when they were prosecuted and this is prohibited under the constitution.

Vanuatu media reports that some of MPs are expected to give evidence in the case next Tuesday, with Judge David Chetwynd due to sit at 9am on Wednesday before giving his decision in the constitutional case.

Speaker Saimon went ahead and opened the session and a presidential address was delivered by the Head of State, President Baldwin Lonsdale.

While the opening session was in progress, Opposition got an interlocutory order restraining the Speaker from progressing the First Ordinary Session pending a full hearing of another application by the opposition for the Court to declare the sitting unconstitutional because it was convened when the Special sitting of Parliament to amendment the national constitution was still alive.

They were challenging provisions under the Leadership Code to which they were charged under.

Supreme Court Registrar, John Obed Alilee confirmed this morning, the four are MP for Pentecost constituency, Tony Nari, MP for Tongoa, John Amos, and the MPs for Tanna, Sebastien Harry and Thomas Laken.

Alilee said the application, now registered as constitutional case No 5 of 2015, was filed by their legal counsel, Justine Ngwele. It listed the Republic of Vanuatu as Respondent.