Vanuatu President revokes pardon

Vanuatu President Baldwin Lonsdale has announced that on Thursday, he signed an order revoking the pardons granted by Marcellino Pipite last weekend.

The Supreme Court had convicted 14 MPs, including the deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses  and speaker of parliament, of giving and receiving corrupt payments.

Pipite, who is the speaker, pardoned himself and 13 other MPs while he was acting President when Lonsdale was out of the country.

One MP, Willie Jimmy, had pleaded guilty and was not pardoned.

President Lonsdale cited Chapter 10, article 66 of the Constitution, which states in part:

66. Conduct of leaders

(1) Any person defined as a leader in Article 67 has a duty to conduct himself in such a way, both in his public and private life, so as not to –

(a) place himself in a position in which he has or could have a conflict of interests or in which the fair exercise of his public or official duties might be compromised;

(b) demean his office or position;

(c) allow his integrity to be called into question; or

(d) endanger or diminish respect for and confidence in the integrity of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.

The President stated that Pipite infringed all of these items, and for that reason, the revocation was necessary.

The Supreme Court is due to sentence the MPs next Thursday.

Source: PACNEWS

Vanuatu President Baldwin Lonsdale, Photo: AFP