Waigani National Court

The figure is subject to confirmation by Nambawan Super’s lawyer, Mek Tumul, to the Waigani National Court on the latest outstanding figure and interest component that the state is expected to pay to contributors. 

This is good news for about 1,667 retired members of Nambawan Super who have been waiting for the State’s component of their retirement money since 2015.

Undialu’s lawyer filed an application seeking to vary the order of 17 November 2017, which joined the two petitions filed by Francis Potape and Dr Hewali Hemia for trial.

Justice Ellenas Batari today heard arguments in court and will give a ruling next week.

Undialu’s lawyer submitted in court today that the two petitions should be tried separately because they have different factual scenarios and seek different reliefs.  

The petition filed by Potape seeks orders of the court to nullify Undialu’s election and declare him the duly elected member.

IBS took the issue of its university status to the Waigani National Court today, seeking interim orders against Fr Jan Czuba as the secretary, the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) and the state.

Justice Derek Hartshon late this afternoon granted the interim orders, restraining Fr Jan from taking further administration steps under the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2014 to cause any further delay in IBS registration as a university.

They filed a motion before the Court of Disputed Returns in the petition that was filed by retired Defense Force commander, Major-General Jerry Singirok, in the 2017 election over the Madang Regional seat.

They asked the National Court to refer questions for determination surrounding the qualification of election runner-up, James Yali, to nominate and stand for election.  

The court told them to draft the proposed questions and have them filed in court this week before the matter returns tomorrow (Friday).

The venue will be confirmed during pre-trial conference this Wednesday at the Waigani National Court.

Polye and his lawyer suggested to the court to have the trial conducted in a court facility apart from the Enga Province, however, parties could not agree on the venue.

Due to the fights and killing by supporters during the election period, security remains a concern.

Suggested trial dates have been set in the month of May next year however that is subject to being formalised by the court.

Kumbakor filed the petition on August 30, disputing Joe Sungi's re-election as Nuku MP.

Sungi was declared member elect on July 20^th.

His lawyer filed a motion, objecting the petition saying it was incompetent because it was filed late.

The two issues brought to court in that motion was that two public holidays fell between that period of declaration and the date the petition was filed.

The public holidays were Remembrance and Repentance day respectively. 

They include the two petitions that were filed disputing the election in the Hela regional seat and the Samarai-Murua seat.

The Waigani National Court has joined the two petitions that were filed challenging Philip Undialu’s win as Hela Governor.

Justice Collin Makail issued orders to consolidate the petitions filed by Francis Potape and Dr. Hemia Hewali.

He was of the view they had similar allegations and urged parties to work towards the trial dates.

The 36-year-old father of three was earlier convicted by the Waigani National Court on three counts of rape.

Paul Supa was among 11 others who abducted the woman as she was returning from the Six-Mile market on 18 October, 2015, where they raped her.

Excessive use of violence with guns and knives were used to threaten her, fortunately, her relatives came to her rescue.

Justice Martin Ipang, in handing down his sentence, says despite the country being full of resources, law and order remains a big issue.

The trial in the Waigani National Court against the Hela man came to a conclusion today, with his lawyer and the state prosecutor presenting their submissions of his verdict in court.

Thomas Warepa stood trial over allegations he caused grievous bodily harm by pulling off Kelo Kewaki’s testicles in the family home at Erima, Port Moresby, on June 25 last year following an argument.

The case was referred for mediation after the court dismissed it today, citing no reasonable cause of action was disclosed in the proceeding that was filed by the PNG National Rugby League Inc (PNGNRL Inc).  

Court found that the case was an abuse of court’s process and that PNGNRL Inc.’s claim could not be sustained because it had no legal standing or right to bring such case.

The case was filed by PNGNRL Inc. over the resolution of 26 March 2017, which saw the Digicel Cup competition for 2017 come under the PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNG-NRLC).