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The National – Tuesday, December 14, 2010
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By ISAAC NICHOLAS
THE country’s founding Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has voluntarily stepped aside.
This had allowed for Wabag MP Sam Abal, the man Sir Michael appointed  last week as deputy prime minister, to take charge as Acting Prime  Minister while the prime minister goes to court to clear his name.
Sir Michael is challenging his referral by the Ombudsman Commission over  allegedly not submitting annual returns to the commission between 1993  and 1998, which is the substantive matter before the courts.
The substantive application involved the prime minister seeking  declarative orders claiming that the Ombudsman Commission did not follow  prescribed compulsory procedures under the Organic Law when it chose to  refer him to the public prosecutor.
Sir Michael, who had led the country through self-government and  independence, is the longest serving member of parliament in the  Commonwealth, clocking 43 years of continued service.
He said in a media statement last night that he would voluntarily step  aside and allow Abal to assume full function and responsibility of the  office of the prime minister while he attended to clearing his name.
The decision by the prime minister stemmed from a request by acting  Public Prosecutor Jimmy Wala Tamate to the Chief Justice, Sir Salamo  Injia, to set up a tribunal to hear allegations that Sir Michael did not  lodge three annual returns.
“While the Supreme Court has yet to give the prime minister an  opportunity to be heard on his reference, the public prosecutor has  proceeded to make a referral,” the statement said.
“However, the prime minister respects the due processes and will continue to avail himself to the hearings.”
However, Sir Michael said he was not given the opportunity as a citizen  and a prime minister to be heard since the filing of his substantive  case in 2008 until today.
His move to step aside was not new as precedent had been set by a former  prime minister, Sir Julius Chan, in 1997 to allow for an inquiry into  the Sandline crisis.
The prime minister’s decision, according to supporters, was the right  move in light of the latest turn of events, including a Supreme Court  decision nullifying the appointment of the governor-general in June.