PNG Government pays K2 million to former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare

Papua New Guinea Government has paid former prime minister Sir Michael Somare more than K2 million in an out-of-court settlement for his “illegal removal from office” four years ago. This payment is a compensation payment for the illegal ousting of Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister by former O'Neill - Namah Government.

 According to report released by the Treasury Department last week described the payment as “compensation to Sir Michael T Somare from losses incurred during his illegal removal from office as prime minister and member for East Sepik region”. The K2,049,800 payment was made from the Treasury Secretary’s advance - a K49 million fund that “caters for unforeseen and urgent expenditure”.
Sir Michael had filed a K205 million civil lawsuit against O’Neill and the State in March last year. According to the writ of summons, Sir Michael was claiming K150
million in general damages for mental anguish caused by public humiliation, K5m in special damages, and K50 million in exemplary damages for his unlawful removal as prime minister.
In August 2011, Parliament voted to remove Sir Michael from office while he was in Singapore for medical treatment, and elected Peter O’Neill as prime minister.
On December 12, 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that Sir Michael had not been legally removed as prime minister and O’Neill was not lawfully appointed as prime minister.
But later on that same day, Parliament appointed O’Neill, for the second time, as prime minister.
On March 4 last year, Sir Michael through his lawyer John Alman, filed the K205m lawsuit claiming damages for his dismissal as prime minister on August 2, 2011. The case was called before Justice Ambeng Kandakasi on November 14 last year.
Yesterday, a spokesperson said the Constitution allowed Sir Michael to seek redress for a series of breaches committed during the 2011 impasse as determined by the Supreme Court, a competent jurisdiction.
“Sir Michael’s claim is relative to special damages calculated by the Attorney-General based on the Salaries and Wages Remuneration Committee awards and other such parameters.
“Sir Michael (and any other person) is entitled as an aggrieved party to pursue exemplary and general damages through the courts.”

The National/PNG Today