The Supreme Court in Waigani has ruled that Opposition Leader Don Polye is a qualified person to challenge the Constitutionality of the Government's UBS loan in court. In 2014, the Prime Minister and the National Executive Council had authorized the borrowing of over 1-point-2 billion Australian Dollars from the Union Bank of Switzerland to purchase a 10.01-percent share in Oil Search Limited. Don Polye who was the Treasurer then had opposed the borrowing, an action he proudly claims has cost him his job. He had taken the matter to court, arguing that the decision was made without Parliament's approval and is illegal. Cases which are started under Section 18 (1) of the Constitution, requires the applicant to show he has a standing to pursue the matter. Government lawyers had opposed Mr. Polye pursuing the case, saying the loan has already been repaid in December 2014, and more importantly, that he was also a member of the NEC when the decision was passed. Polye's lawyer, Lohani Henao, had raised arguments that his client holds an important public office, he raises important Constitutional issues and that he's not a busy body with improper motives. This week, a full bench of the high court comprising Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, and Justices David Cannings and Stephen Kassman published their ruling in favour of Mr. Polye, saying all criteria for standing under a Section 18 (1) of the Supreme Court case have been met. NBC News Next news >> PNG Government increases tax on alcohol and tobacco
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