Milestone PNG conviction puts sorcery accusers on notice over inciting lynchings
A landmark court conviction in Papua New Guinea related to the murder of a mother-of-five accused of sorcery is being hailed as a major victory in the fight to stop such attacks and murders. For the first time, a court
Samoa’s embattled Prime Minister faces court action to have her removed
Samoa Opposition Leader and head of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi has gone to the Supreme Court to get Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa to step down on the grounds that she
Saipan casino buried in $165m debt but hoping to regroup and resume business
Succumbing to the pressures from its creditors, Imperial Pacific International has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S District Court for the CNMI, reporting debts totaling of US$165.8 million. Before the
Former PNG PM O’Neill cleared of UBS loan allegations
The Papua New Guinea National Court in Waigani on Friday closed criminal proceedings against Ialibu-Pangia MP and former prime minister Peter O’Neill regarding the K3billion (US$790 million) UBS loan saga for lack of
Absolute discharge for Bainimarama, fine without record of conviction for Qiliho
Suva, Fiji: When Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau took her seat in court this morning to deliver her sentence against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, she warned
Australian-born judge challenges deportation from Kiribati amid long-running judicial crisis
David Lambourne, an Australian-born high court judge whose attempted deportation two years ago from Kiribati sparked a judicial crisis in the Pacific nation, appeared in court in a case closely watched by the United
Kiribati judge hopes to finally have day in court
An expatriate judge in Kiribati hopes he will get a chance to make his case on Tuesday over his controversial suspension three years ago. David Lambourne, who is the husband of the opposition leader Tessie Lambourne,
Pacific judiciaries ill-equipped against technology, says Judge
Rapid global advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies have left judiciaries in the Pacific outdated and ill-equipped to tackle emerging challenges, “particularly when it comes to dealing
PNG MP Lohia Boe Samuel acquitted of murder
Moresby North West MP Lohia Boe Samuel has been found not guilty, and acquitted by the Waigani National Court in Papua New Guinea Wednesday. Samuel and his co-accused Fabian Hera, were both charged with willful murder,
Samoa Supreme Court voids former PM Tuilaepa and Lealailepule suspension
The Samoa Supreme Court today ruled that the suspension of former Prime Minister the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) Tuilaepa Sailele Malilegaoi and party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi for two
New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote
A New Caledonian pro-independence leader says the advice of the International Court of Justice is being sought over the contested 2021 referendum on independence from France. Roch Wamytan, who is the president of New
Tonga Government settles legal dispute with broadband company
A confidential settlement agreement has been reached between the Government of Tonga and Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific), who have agreed to end litigation over a multi-million contract dispute. Tonga
Suspended PNG MP Kramer asks for alternate penalty
Suspended Minister for Immigration and Member for Madang Bryan Kramer is likely to know by Friday, on what penalty he will be slapped with by the Leadership Tribunal enquiring in to misconduct allegations against him.
Tongan court rules law does not apply to a noble
Tonga’s Appeal Court has upheld a decision saying a law did not apply to a nobleman. A member of Parliament, a nobles’ representative, was elected in 2021 despite the fact he had a court debt. It is
Suspended PNG MP Kramer found guilty for alleged misconduct
The Papua New Guinea leadership tribunal inquiring into misconduct allegations against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer today found Kramer guilty on seven of the 12 allegations of misconduct against him. Initially,
Two FSM nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering
The Federated States of Micronesia’s Supreme Court has found two of its nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conflict of interest, in a case involving an unlawful international shipping
Samoa Court quashes appointment of Leota
Samoa’s Court of Appeal has found the appointment of Toomata Norah Leota as the 7th woman MP to be illegal and her subsequent swearing in as a member of the Legislative Assembly as invalid. “We declare that no
Opinion: High-stakes drama in Marshall Islands or just another day at the office?
A word of free advice: if you’re going to try to bribe legislators to create a special zone to attract at best suspicious investment, don’t do it as an officer of a non-governmental organisation you formed in the
PNG Chief Justice steps down from official duties
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister and Attorney, General Pila Niningi has announced that PNG Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika has stepped down from official duties for an indefinite period, as of Wednesday October 5,
Three more NZ judges to face tribunal in Kiribati
Kiribati will put another three New Zealand judges before a tribunal for misconduct, as New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta warns of “constitutional issues” in the Pacific nation. The Kiribati government has
Motion of no confidence over Kiribati’s treatment of judges
The Kiribati opposition is planning to bring a motion of no confidence in the Government of President Taneti Maamau. This follows the attempt to remove and deport Justice David Lambourne, the suspension of the Chief
Kiribati’s suspended judges ‘a critical threat’: IBHARI
An international human rights body has condemned the suspension of three senior Court of Appeal judges by the Kiribati government, calling it a “critical threat” to the rule of law. In a statement on Wednesday, the
‘Black eye’ for Marshall Islands: Hilda on alleged bribery scandal
The arrest and extradition to the United States last week of two naturalised Marshallese citizens indicted by the Justice Department for allegedly bribing multiple elected leaders is “a big black eye for the
