The Waigani National Court is yet to receive an update on the progress of the PNG Immigration committee, which is reviewing the deportation of Malaysian Business man, Peter Ling Koh Woo.
Woo’s lawyer, Greg Sheppard, appeared before Justice Hitelai Polume-Kiele today however could not update the court on the progress of the review as lawyer representing the Chief Migration officer Mataio Rabura and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, Barrion Kua was not in court.
Kua told the court on Oct 3 that a committee was reviewing an application by Woo to come back to the country following his deportation.
When asked how long such reviews take, Sheppard told the court it is “usually done within a few days.”
He also added that in absence of any action, the onus was now on them to take action, indicating they will be filing a notice of motion in coming days seeking appropriate orders.
The matter has been adjourned to next week Monday, Dec 5.
Woo was deported on July 2 by PNG Immigration without his passport and out of jurisdiction whilst he was facing criminal charges before the Waigani Committal Court.
His case at the District Court has since been adjourned generally to the registry. He last appeared in court on June 30.
Arrested in Port Moresby in February this year, he was charged for false pretense, misappropriation and two counts of attempts to pervert justice.
It is alleged that while employed as a managing director of a company between Oct 11, 2012, and Oct 7, 2015, at the Waigani Village, he dishonestly applied to his own use, the use of his personal company Ever Green Limited an amount of K352,794.73.
It is also alleged that between the same period, by false pretense and with intent to defraud the company he worked for, provided a financial guarantee in his capacity as a managing director when he knew very well he had no authority to give such guarantee to his personal company.
Woo is also facing immigration charges at the Boroko District Court. He has not been appearing at the Boroko courthouse and is yet to be arraigned.
(Caption: Woo outside the court house after his case on June 30.)