The head of the country’s anti-corruption office, Matthew Damaru, has been re-instated to his position by the National Court this afternoon in Port Moresby.
The director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) was served his suspension notice on Saturday at his home.
Damaru’s lawyer filed an urgent ex parte court hearing yesterday arguing that the suspension was of urgency.
Today in Court, plaintiff’s lawyer Gregory Egan argued that the suspension is a threatening action and asked the Court to use its powers to stay the suspension by restraining defendants, ACP Crimes Victor Isouve and Police Commissioner Gari Baki.
Egan also pointed out that the suspension resulted from investigations into the Simbu Provincial Government, which the RPNGC hierarchy claimed was not approved and Damaru disobeyed orders.
Justice Allen David in his ruling found that there is hard copy evidence of the investigation and the trip to Chimbu Province was approved by ACP Crimes.
He ruled in the plaintiff’s favour, staying the suspension until the case returns to Court on May 9, 2016.
Lawyers representing the defendants and State appeared during the Court proceeding but sought leave as the matter was an ex parte proceeding.
An ex parte judicial proceeding is conducted for the benefit of only one party.
(Fraud director Matthew Damaru at the Court House today.)