Tamate awaits official notice

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

ACTING Public Prosecutor Jim Wala Tamate is still waiting for an official notice to be served on him over his reported removal from office, The National reports.

Tamate was allegedly sidelined by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) last week.

His removal had brought mixed reactions from throughout PNG because he was instrumental in referring Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to a leadership tribunal over misconduct in office allegations.

Tamate told The National yesterday that he had not been officially informed of his sidelining by the authorities.

He became aware of the move though the media last weekend, and would await an official notification before stepping aside.

Acknowledging the commission for appointing him in an acting position for the last two years, Tamate said he was satisfied that he had successfully implemented a department white paper decision to make the office of the public prosecutor autonomous.

He said through this implementation process, the public prosecutor’s office had become a self-accounting unit separated from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

His biggest satisfaction, the last two years, was in ensuring the smooth running of the office in prosecuting many criminal cases that the office was charged with performing.

Tamate said the division tasked with matters relating to proceeds of crimes had also been very effective in the last two years, netting more than K10 million.

The money had been put back into the national government’s consolidated revenue.

“During my term, we have reached full autonomy. I have brought about integrity and improved work performance within the office of the public prosecutor, for which I am happy and thank God that the office is now geared towards delivering services to our people.

“I have no regrets for what I have done during my term here,” Tamate said.

Both Tamate and his reported replacement and one of two deputy public prosecutors, Camillus Sambua, had not been officially informed of the JLSC decision.