PNG executivefails in bid to stymie court case

the federal government of Papua brand new Guinea has failed in a bid to save youthe executive justice of the Supreme Court from presiding over case challenging the election of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.Mr O'Neill's lawyers had filed a motion asking the executive Justice Sir Salamo Injia to take away himself from hearing the case, because his son, Terry Injia, worked for a law firm employed by the opposition.But Sir Salamo ruled on Wednesday there can be no conflict of interest after lawyers for former acting prime minister Sam Abal announced that they had dropped Terry Injia's law firm, Steeles Lawyers, earlier within the day."he's now not involved on this situation," Sir Salamo said, handing down his decisidirectly to a packed court room in Port Moresby."My son has not appeared within the se proceedings heard before me and he has not looked as if it wouldday."It was transparentthis morning thon the firm has now withdrawn from the case."It was noted that Mr Injia had filed briefs for his firm, but was not a part of the case to hand.Sir Salamo ruled n applicatidirectly to have him dismissed mayagain be raised when the case is heard by the whole court in mid-September, when the executive justice will sit on a panel of fivejudges charged with deciding if Mr O'Neill's election at the ground of parliament was constitutional.Mr O'Neill tokoffice on August 2 after a wondervote of seven0 to two4 against the federal government of Sir Michael Somare, which on the time was being headed up by acting prime minister Sam Abal.not up to 2 hours later, Mr O'Neill were sworn in as prime minister by the governor-general and Mr Abal had announced he would challenge the vote in court.Mr Abal's case centres on whether the office of prime minister was legally declared vacant when the vote tokplace on August 2, almaximum4months after Sir Michael left PNG for Singapore to undergo heart surgery.There don't have any public appearances by Sir Michael sincehe left for Singapore in April, but even soa radio interview where he denied he was sick.Mr Abal was joined in court on Wednesday by Arthur Somare, former public enterprises minister and the center son of Sir Michael, who on Friday visited his father to deliver court documents when it comes to the continued constitutional battle.Meanwhile, Mr Abal is predicted to go back to court next week to listen to the result of a case brought against him in January.That case - over whether Mr Abal was legally allowed take the post of acting prime minister for a temporary period in December last year - is predicted to be decided next Wednesday.