Judge: Ignite the flame in Central Province!

The administrative judge for criminal matters in Central has challenged those in the province to ‘ignite the flame’ of the province, which once had a colourful history in terms of law and order.

Some of the areas in the province were known for addressing law and order issues, he said during the opening of the Central Court circuit today.

Areas like Magarida in the Abau district; Sogeri as well as Tapini in Goilala are some areas that have contributed to that colourful history.

He said in the colonial days, Magarida was used as an area where trouble makers were hung as punishment for their wrongdoing.

Sir Hubert Murray, who was a judge and Lieutenant-Governor of Papua from 1908, resided at Sogeri and travelled into the city to conduct cases.

He said since independence, public servants have forgotten about the districts and he challenged magistrates to sit in the districts and not at Waigani.

Currently, only the senior principal magistrate sits at Kwikila to deal with Distric Court cases while the other two magistrates sit in NCD.  

In 2006, the Judiciary gazetted national court sitting places in Tapini, Bereina, Bomana, Kwikila, Kupiano, Moroguina and Magarida. Only Kwikila and Bomana are frequently used on circuits due to the state of the court facilities.

Tapini courthouse was only used last year after the last court sitting was conducted in 1960.  

 

(Loop Picture of Justice Mogish at Kwikila today.) 

Author: 
Sally Pokiton