The President Has Revoked The Pardon For Pipite And 13 MP’s Convicted Of Bribery

VIDEO: President Lonsdale Revokes Pardon Instrument

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU has revoked the Pardon Instrument that was signed by Pipite on the 10^th of October himself and the thirteen convicted Members of Parliament who were charged guilty of bribery under the Penal Code. ‘

The President said that his decision is based on article sixty six (66) of the national constitution which states that

any person defined as a leader in Article 67 has a duty to conduct himself in such a way, both in his public and private life, so as not to;

a. Place himself in a position in which he has or could have a conflict of interests or in which the fair exercise of his public or official duties might be compromised;

b. Demean his office or position; (c) allow his integrity to be called into question.

c. Endanger or diminish respect for and confidence in the integrity of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.

“On this values,”” the President declared, “I have come out to let us all know that the option that I decided on, is to revoke the (Pardon) instrument that the Acting President made and gazetted on 11^th October, I make this decisions following this reasons:

1. Marcelino Pipite at that time when was as the Acting President, he was one of those that was convicted on 9^th October 2015, and he exercised the power of my office to pardon himself and the other 13 MP’s that were convicted. Chapter 10 of the Constitution shows clearly, in my opinion, that the Acting President infringed every sub-clause of Article 66 (1).

2. The Acting President at that time used the power of the Head of State to prevent the course of justice to complete its process, and he decided to issue the “Pardon Instrument”, he never consulted me about it, and he took the advice that came from government legal officers.

3. The Acting President, through the advice of his legal advisers, pardoned himself along with the 13 MP’s at a time when they were already convicted, they were still on bail, and their Sentence had not yet been announced. Also, following the letter that I had received, the advice for the Pardon Instrument came out from the Minister of Justice which as a result made the Acting President react in a way that has put into question the exercise of the power under Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu.

Therefore “following this advice’s, concerning the signature of the Acting President on the Pardoning Order of 10^th October 2015,” stated the President, “following advice’s, deep thinking and careful consideration on the situation in my country, I take this time this morning, 16^th October 2015, to announce that yesterday 15^th October 2015 I revoked the Pardoning Instrument that the Acting President signed on 10^th October 2015. I want to inform all the citizens of Vanuatu that, I signed the Revocation of the Pardoning Instrument that the Acting President signed with the hope of bringing back respect and confidence to the exercises of the power under Article 38,” the President declared.

“In the name of Peace and Unity of Vanuatu, I appeal to us all to remain quiet, calm and allow justice to take its course on 22^nd October 2015,” the President appeals to the citizens of Vanuatu.

To view or download your copy of the Presidents Statement On Pardon Instrument Revocation click here.