Manus MP Ronnie Knight faces dismissal from Office

A penalty of dismissal from office has been recommended to the Leadership Tribunal for Ronnie Knight, after hearing resumed this morning.

The Manus Open MP is currently under suspension after facing the leadership tribunal last November were he was recently found guilty.

Knight was found guilty of breaching the leadership code last month, on four out of five allegations which were considered serious and criminal in nature.

The Public Prospectors Office submitted for dismissal from office, the highest maximum penalty available under the Leadership Code.

Among their submissions they say, the leader is responsible for what has happened without considering laws, proper advice and safety of the Manus people when purchasing MV Manus Trader Star, a third level ship for transporting cargoes and passengers in 2013.

Knights lawyer urge the court to impose fines, as others were also involved.

A sum of 836 thousand kina was found to have been misapplied when MV Manus was purchased.

The allegations against Kinght centred around him providing misleading information to his Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee members, used office for personal gain and speak and vote on matters which he has interests in.

A recommendation to have the matter dealt with by the police has also been made.

A decision will be handed down this week.