Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The ad hoc investigation committee probing the conduct of Juol Nhonmgek, a member of parliament, has warned him of suspension.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Rev. Michael Ayen Johnson, said Juol is likely to be charged under Sub-Regulation (1) if they find him guilty of defamation.
This comes after Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly accused Juol Nhonmgek of defamation.
The second action may include a violation of Conduct of Business Regulation 59 sub-regulation (3), which states that if the member refuses to apologize, the speaker may suspend him or her from the services of the house for the remainder of the session, during which time he or she will not be paid by the assembly.
“These are the two actions to be taken. “One option is to withdraw the defamatory words and apologize, or to suspend, which includes being denied services in the assembly for the duration of the session in which such defamation was deemed to have occurred.”
“The ad hoc committee is an ad hoc committee tasked only to investigate what happened. None of them is deemed either the complainant or the accused until the conclusion is drawn, and that is subject to the complaint of the accused,” he said.
According to him, three summons letters have been written to Juol Nhonmgek, asking him to appear before the committee.
He said if Nhonmgek provides evidence that is credible, the committee will seek an explanation from the speaker, noting that “nobody is above the law”.
Kumba has expressed her readiness to comply and defend herself before the committee and has vowed to accept any credible evidence Juol would provide.
“The committee seeks accountability from Juol Nhonmgek for his claim, and if his claims are credible, the committee will seek accountability from the Right Honorable Speaker,” Ayen said.
He said the same committee had investigated Juol Nhonmgek and two others before, and the three had apologised and promised not to continue with statements that were deemed defamatory by the speaker.
The investigation committee is constituted in accordance with Conduct of Business Regulation 59. The conduct of business regulation states that whenever, in the opinion of the speaker or any person presiding in a committee, a statement made by a member is prima facie defamatory of any member, the matter shall be referred to the assembly business committee, which shall investigate the matter and present its findings to the house within a period of 21 days.
The committee was composed of the committees for defence, public order, legislation, members’ affairs, information, and others.
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