Acting Judge Nicholas Miviri

These were the remarks of Acting Judge Nicholas Miviri of the Kimbe National Court when he recently sentenced a 39-year-old First Constable, attached with the criminal investigation drug squad in Kimbe, to 18 years in jail.

From Simbu, the officer was one of those responsible for a police brutality case, witnessed by the public in the heart of Kimbe town.

Paul Karl, from Kurumugl village, Kundiawa, was part of a group of policemen assisting Kimbe town officials clean the town on 8 April 2011, near Ela Motors, when the deceased, Emil Gare, spit out betelnut.

Acting Judge Nicholas Miviri of the Kimbe National Court sentenced Steven Wickless.

A robbery committed on 13 February 2017, in the heart of all business activities, metres from the police station, the court premises and West New Britain Provincial Government headquarters, was described by the court as a “daring and dangerous robbery” which saw the group walk away with K29,419.14.

Kimbe’s City Pharmacy was held up by eight men armed with knives, homemade and pump action shot guns. 

Acting Judge Nicholas Miviri was sworn in by acting Governor General Theo Zurenuoc at the Government House today in the presence of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and other judges.  

He will be posted to the Kimbe National Court for a term of 12 months. He joins Justice Ellenas  Batari in the West New Britain Province. 

He is the fifth acting judge currently serving in the National Court. The National and Supreme Court have 35 permanent judges.

Miviri’s appointment was announced on Jan 20, 2017 by Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission Ano Pala.