Tribunal decides suspended Chief Justice Kumar's hearing will not be open to media

A tribunal has decided that media will not be allowed into the courtroom for suspended Chief Justice Kamal Kumar's matter.

When we questioned the reason for the decision from Kumar's King's Counsel Anthony Morris, we were told that the tribunal will give its reasons tomorrow.

The four-member tribunal is chaired by retired Justice David Ashton-Lewis and the members include Justice Filimoni Jitoko, Justice Jiten Singh and Justice William Calanchini.

Kumar is represented by Morris and Laurel Vaurasi.

Kumar was suspended in January this year after complaints of misbehaviour.

The contents of the complaints were put to Kumar by the Prime Minister on the 24th of January 2023.

His responses were received by the Prime Minister on the 27th of January 2023.

The President on the 29th of January informed Kumar that having regard to the nature of some of the matters complained of and the responses, he is suspended from office pending investigation and referral to the tribunal.