Unfortunately the timing and reasons given by the Attorney General and former Chief Justice, Arnold Amet in the sacking of the Public Prosecutor implies political influence exists within the judiciary

Last week, the Attorney General discouraged the public from “putting pressure” on the Chief Justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to hear charges against his boss, the Prime Minister, Michael Somare.

Exactly five days later, the same Attorney General has sacked the Public Prosecutor, who would have presented the case against the PM, for allegedly “failing to perform” without any further details of how he has failed in his duties. People are entitled to conclude that this is everything but a coincidence.

Constitutional Offices such as the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Ombudsman Commission have for a long time been starved off vital funds to perform their constitutional responsibilities effectively.

If the Public Prosecutor has been sacked for “non-performance” then he can rightly argue that any non-performance, other than mere incompetence, is the doing of the Minister and his government. The Attorney General will do well if he starts by ensuring these offices are adequately funded otherwise he himself will be just as guilty of non-performance”.