Sir Gibbs Salika

On Friday night the Deputy Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika made this remarks when launching a book authored by the acting Public Solicitor, Leslie Mamu. 

The book titled Supreme Court practices and procedures covers the law and the principles and practice in the Supreme Court.

Author, Leslie Mamu explained that the book is a collection of materials, cases and laws put together to make it easy for law practitioners and court users that come before the Supreme Court.

Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said this when giving his tribute on behalf of the judiciary at the thanksgiving mass yesterday (May 24).

He described the late judge as a fearless lawyer in his early years of practise prior to his appointment to the bench.

He thanked the immediate family of the late judge and the people of Madang for giving a son who became a very talented lawyer and judge and for sharing him with the rest of Papua New Guinea.

“He died at a very early age. 52 years old and to die, is too young,” Sir Gibbs said.

They are entrusted with the responsibility to perform their roles with utmost honesty, to deliver the goods and services to the people and not go into business themselves.

This was stressed by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika today when he sentenced a senior public servant from the Wabag District Treasury Office, and a Civil Works coordinator, to eight years in prison with hard labour.

Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika dismissed the case on May 10 after he found that the accused had no case to answer to.

The trial commenced last week with the state presenting its evidence in court.

At the close of the state’s evidence, Tato’s lawyers moved an application asking the court to stop the trial and acquit him, saying the defence team had no case to answer to because the state’s case lacked sufficient evidence to convict him.

That application was agreed to by the court and Tato was discharged of the allegations against him.

All evidence that will be considered by the court from witnesses closed yesterday afternoon.

Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika will now proceed to hear submissions from Parker’s lawyers and the state on the evidence they provided in court since Monday.

The state called eight witnesses in its case, these included the late Lapan Nason’s daughter, who is the state’s key witness, four medical doctors, two colleagues of Nason, the arresting officer and a forensic photographer.

Mike Mack of Angoram in the East Sepik Province was sentenced to two years in prison however that sentence was suspended because he repaid all those monies.

Mack was a call centre agent with BSP retail in Port Moresby, when he accessed two accounts belonging to a John Warang and transferred the monies.

He committed the crime between February 18 and March 6, 2016 by accessing the accounts using the account holder’s mobile banking personal details.

He got a sim replacement from Digicel, and used Warang’s mobile numbers to make the transactions via mobile banking.

Twivey’s lawyer appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on Monday, where her District Court bail conditions were converted to National Court bail conditions. She remains on an extended bail of K1,000.

The State and her lawyers were also told to file pre-trial review statements before a trial date can be set. The matter returns to court on May 1.

On March 9, Twivey was committed to stand trial in the Waigani National Court to answer to allegations of perverting the course of justice in 2015.

He returned to court on Monday morning before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, who set the matter for a possible 4-day trial from May 1.

Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin informed the court that the state will proceed the trial on the charge of murder.

Parker was initially charged for wilful murder in June 2015.

The 44-year-old from Minj, Jiwaka Province, was arrested and charged with the wilful murder of his chief aircraft engineer, 54-year-old Lapan Nason, from New Ireland Province, on June 8, 2015.

Arrested and charged with one count of dishonest application and false pretence, Warren Koaba from the Central Province went for mention at the Waigani National Court this week. 

The court was told his case has been transferred to Goroka, which will be presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on April 3.

The Waigani Committal Court found sufficient evidence to put his case for trial.

His case of misappropriation allegations was dismissed today by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika after the state filed a notice they will not continue with his case to trial because they do not have enough evidence.

“It’s a huge relief for me simply because I’ve been put through 11 months of torture for something that from day 1 maintained that I have never done wrong,” he told Loop PNG after court this morning.