Solomon Tato

​Tato misappropriation case dismissed

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.

Tato’s indictment challenge dismissed

Tato filed the application to dismiss or quash the ex-officio indictment or an election of his case by the Public Prosecutor to proceed to the National Court for trial.

The Public Prosecutor elected his case to go forward to the National Court under section 526 of the Criminal Code. This happened after the Goroka District Court dismissing his case for insufficient evidence on Nov 27 last year.

The indictment was served on Tato in Port Moresby on July 22 by the Public Prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin, for misappropriation allegations. The allegations date back to 2011.

Solomon Tato to challenge indictment

Tato was served an ex-officio indictment on July 22 in Port Moresby by the Public Prosecutor, Pondros Kaluwin, for misappropriation allegations. The allegations date back to 2011.

An ex-officio indictment is a court document that is signed and presented by the Public Prosecutor in special cases where the Committal Court magistrate refuses to commit a person to stand trial or dismisses a case on insufficient evidence. It can only be signed by the Public Prosecutor.

Tato said his lawyer George Lau filed an application challenging that ex-officio indictment.

EHP Administrator to help UOG in reconciliation

“We are ready to assist the University facilitate reconciliation, we cannot do much as the University has its own law,” Tato said.

Following the student fight at the campus last week, were 44 students were injured and treated,  with the UOG Academic Senate suspending classes for two weeks giving time for students to recover.      

“The situation happened within the campus, I thank Police for maintaining the situation when it spilled over to the main town,” Tato said.

“We offer our sympathy to the students who were affected because of what has happen.”

Tato to stand trial in National Court

Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin elected his case to go forward to the National Court under section 526 of the Criminal Code despite the Goroka District Court dismissing his case for insufficient evidence in Nov 27 last year.

EHP Administrator calls for public servants to resume work

Tato's instruction was triggered by the absence of public servants at their respective work places, especially at the provincial Yanepa Building, due to the protracted legal wrangle for the province's top administrative post.

In a media conference in Goroka today, Tato said he is now focused on towing the public servants in line in a bid to serve the people “as normalcy is now being restored in the province's public service machinery.”

Tato said: “I’m satisfied that the Supreme Court has ordered for my reinstatement as the provincial administrator of EHP last Monday.

Tato resumes as EHP Administrator

Tato and his two deputies, John Gimisive (field services) and Ipai Mania (corporate services) were escorted into the besieged Yanepa Building by police and some public servants.

On Wednesday Tato led a team of public servants including the provincial disaster officer Apwester Seka to floods and landslide disaster sites in Bena, Henganofi and Kainantu.

“The impasse is to the appointment of the provincial administrator is over. We are now focused on serving the 67,000 people of EHP, Tato told journalists in Goroka.

Court restrains Soso, PEC

The Waigani National Court granted the interim orders yesterday afternoon after the sidelined Eastern Highlands Provincial Administrator Solomon Tato filed a notice of motion that was heard ex-parte.

Acting Judge Danjo Koeget when presiding over the matter also ordered that Tato immediately resume office as the Eastern Highlands Provincial Administrator as the substantive Provincial Administrator forthwith pending the determination of the substantive matter.