national court

Another night behind bars for Kulang

His bail application has been filed at the Goroka National Court.

The former MP for Kundiawa-Gembogl was charged with two counts; one count for unlawful killing under section 299 of the Criminal Code Act and the other count for taking part in a riot, under section 65 of the Criminal Code Act.

Kulang made an appearance at the Goroka Committal Court on Wednesday for his first mention.

Presiding Magistrate, Gerald Wetunawa, however adjourned the matter to the 18th of August to allow police to compile the necessary files.

Another man stands trial over Tatana shooting

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar today ordered the committal of Jeffery Sheekiot of Madang Province to the National Court for trial.

The order came after the committal court considered Sheekiot’s statement in response to its earlier ruling last month. The court then ruled there was enough evidence for his case to go for trial.

Blogger’s lawyer told to file motion

This notice of motion will be to ask the court to set aside the restraining orders that were taken out against Namorong by the Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato.

Commissioner Gamato on July 12th obtained restraining orders from the Waigani National Court, to stop Namarong, his servants and agents from further publishing defamatory remarks on Facebook and Twitter, against him.

The specific remarks were not stated in the notice of motion moved last week, but his lawyer told Loop PNG after court that the remarks associated Commissioner Gamato to a fruit.

NCD Regional candidates’ case dismissed

Parties aggrieved with the conduct of the elections have the appropriate remedy, which is through election petitions, where the courts can deal with election-related grievances at the appropriate time.

That appropriate time is after the declaration and return of writs. This was reiterated by Justice Collin Makail when presiding over an election-related trial today. 

The Waigani National Court this afternoon dismissed the case filed by 12 candidates contesting the NCD Regional seat after a trial conducted in short notice.

Court refuses to interrupt SHP counting

Candidate Joseph Kobol filed an urgent application on July 13 seeking interim injunction to stop returning officer Jacob Kurap from performing the duties and function of a Provincial Returning Officer.

Lawyer representing Kobol said the appointment of Kurap as provincial returning officer is not created by law under section 19 of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections (OLNLLGE).

Motions on election matters withdrawn

The first was filed on July 8 by a candidate in the Southern Highlands regional seat, Sylvester Harry Komba, against Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato.

The matter was filed in relation to counting of certain disputed ballot boxes from the Nipa-Kutubu area.

Komba’s lawyer appeared before Justice Collin Makail today and said he will no longer be asking the court for interim orders but wait for the substantive matter, which is related to the issue of polling on Sunday.

NCD candidates take counting to court

Andy Bawa, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, Michael Kandiu, Robert Agen, James Melegepa, Tom Watinga, Steven Kilage, Brian Pulume, Noel Anjo, Francis Tanga, Jamuga Stone and Bonny Igime, as candidates, filed the urgent application against NCD Election Manager Alwyn Jimmy and Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato.

The matter came before Justice Collin Makail today but was adjourned to Thursday after their lawyer asked for an adjournment.

Court refuses restraining orders sought by Asi

His lawyer went before the court on July 12, asking the court to stay his suspension, reinstate him to his position and restrain the NEC from taking any further disciplinary actions against him, including the revocation of his appointment.

Justice Leka Nablu today refused the orders, saying the interim reliefs he is seeking from the court are those he would seek in the final determination of the review.

She refused the application for stay and interim orders in the overall interest of justice.

Asi was suspended on February 9 and vacated office on February 16.

Three convicted over funds misuse

The former director of the National Library and Archives, Jacob Hevelawa, his wife Miriam Hevelawa, and the former corporate service manager of the National Library and Archives, Timothy Numara, were found guilty on Friday for conspiring with each other to misappropriate K118,846.30 last year.

The three were arrested and charged in January 2016 with one count each of abuse of office, dishonestly applying K118,846.30 and conspiring to defraud the state of the said amount.

Fraud trial: Lodge owner gives evidence

Mose Kopyoto owns Kopyoto Investments Ltd, the company that runs Lodge 10 in Port Moresby.

In 2015, four men received services from his lodge upon presentation of fake cheques, defrauding him of cash while pretending to be employees of the Department of National Planning.

Three of those four men are now standing trial at the National Court.

Nelson Aila of Goimga village, Malalaua District, Gulf Province, Murray Willie of Warakum in the Western Highlands Province and their co-accused, Simon Nokue, are currently standing trial in court.