[8] Three of the MPs, Mathew Batsiua, Kieren Keke and Roland Kun, were suspended in May 2014 for making comments to international media critical of the government and the alleged breakdown of the rule of law.
[9] Another two, Sprent Dabwido (a former president) and Squire Jeremiah were suspended a month later for behaving in an unruly manner.
[10] In June 2015, Jeremiah, Dabwido, and Batsiua were arrested and Kun had his passport cancelled amid claims that they had been trying to destabilise the Government by talking to foreign media.
Nauru did not pay this amount and on 13 September 2018 Justice Muecke ordered a permanent stay of the proceedings against them.
[14] The Nauru government is appealing this decision to the Nauru Court of Appeal and will be heard by Michael Scott, the former Chief Justice of Tonga, John Muria, the Chief Justice of Kiribati and Nicholas Kirriwom, a judge of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea.