The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea has filed an urgent application to stop a leadership tribunal from convening tomorrow to hear allegations of misconduct against him.
The newspaper, The National reports the application was filed yesterday by Sir Michael Somare's legal team, and documents were served on the Ombudsman Commission and the public prosecutor's office.
The Acting Public Prosecutor Jim Tamate says his office will fight the application when the tribunal starts its session tomorrow.
He says a team of prosecutors is ready to present its case relating to allegations Sir Michael failed to report on his annual returns for a specified period.
Yesterday's application was to stop the tribunal from proceeding until a Supreme Court application questioning the constitutionality of the Ombudsman Commission's referral of Sir Michael to the public prosecutor is ruled upon.
That matter has been adjourned to Monday.
