Sir Gibbs testifies against Kramer

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Sir Gibbs testifies against Kramer

PORT MORESBY: Chief Justice Sir Bibbs Salia says leaders should be responsible in disseminating “factual information to the people so that they will understand”.

“A leader can comment, with full facts. If you do not know, do not open your mouth,” he added.

Sir Gibbs was testifying yesterday as a State witness in a leadership tribunal looking into 14 allegations against Madang MP Bryan Kramer.

The National reported the tribunal proceedings:

Sir Gibbs testifies against Kramer

November 15, 2022The NationalMain Stories

Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika (left) with Ombudsman commissioner Richard Pagen after the leadership tribunal hearing in Waigani, National Capital District, yesterday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

By CLARISSA MOI
CHIEF Justice Sir Gibbs Salika says leaders should be responsible in disseminating factual information to the people so that they will understand.
“A leader can comment with full facts. If you don’t know, don’t open your mouth,” he said.
Sir Gibbs was testifying yesterday as a State witness in a leadership tribunal looking into 14 allegations against Madang MP Bryan Kramer.
Three of the allegations related to social media publications by Kramer when he was the police minister, purportedly scandalising the judiciary, namely the conduct of Sir Gibbs, by suggesting “a conflict of interest”.
Kramer was alleged to have also published materials scandalising the judiciary and accusing former prime minister Peter O’Neill and his lawyers of filing a fake warrant of arrest to deceive and mislead the court in 2019.
Sir Gibbs clarified yesterday that he was appointed Chief Justice by the National Executive Council, from the five names submitted for the position.
He said Kramer was insinuating that “because O’Neill appointed me, I will do him a favour and grant him a relief”.
“And that is wrong. As a responsible leader, don’t make such comments,” Sir Gibbs added.
“The third arm of the government holds the country, and our people trust the judiciary.
“And Kramer is trying to get the people to disrespect and lower the integrity of the judiciary. That is very irresponsible of a leader.
“The public will continue to question the integrity and independence of the judiciary.”
Kramer’s lawyer Miglishi Giruakonda asked Sir Gibbs whether he would agree that Kramer had publicised facts.
Sir Gibbs replied that it was “a distortion of the facts”.
Giruakonda then asked Sir Gibbs whether he would agree that Kramer as an MP and former police minister correctly published that information.
Sir Gibbs said: “A leader can comment with full facts. If you don’t know, don’t open your mouth.”
Sir Gibbs said he became aware of the social media posts through his family and wrote a letter of complaint to then acting police commissioner David Manning, and also to the Chief Ombudsman.
He said his letter to Manning was to lay charges against Kramer under the Summary Offences Act and the Cyber Crime Act for spreading false and malicious information.
But he said his letter was “intercepted”.
Sir Gibbs said he later received a response from Manning that a team made up of Hodges Ette and others would investigate.
Ette wrote to Sir Gibbs that he would be contacting him, but nothing happened.
The tribunal, chaired by Judge Lawrence Kangwia and assisted by magistrates Josephine Nidue and Edward Komia, continues today.

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