Chief Justice

Enga Police Commander George Kakas said the tribe gave K10, 000 and five pigs to the Chief Justice and his tribe in the presence of police after they realized they were wrong.   

He said the apology was accepted but said the law remains and police will continue its investigations and get to the bottom of the attack.

Kakas said two groups of about 100 people were involved in the road block that demanded compensation from the Chief Justice as he was traveling to catch a flight back to Port Moresby. 

In a statement released this afternoon, the Justice Minister said there can be no toleration for such acts and those behind it will feel the full force of the law.

He said regardless of local motivation behind the incident, an attack on a Chief Justice is an attack on the Judiciary and our system of Government.

Meantime, the Justice Minister further commended the police officers who provided protection on the Chief Justice on Monday.  

Sir Salamo was attacked along with his armed close protection officers by a group of men from a neighboring tribe while travelling from his village in the Tsak valley to Wapenamanda to catch a flight.

There were no deaths from the incident yesterday but a few police men including the Chief Justice received injuries. Sir Salamo was then taken to Kungumanda Foursquare hospital where he was treated with cuts to his arm.

Enga Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent George Kakas, confirmed the rumor but was not in a position to give further details into the incident.

PPC Kakas told this newsroom that he has sent police personnel to Sir Salamo's village in Tsak Valley and they are yet to return with the findings.

Sir Salamo was reportedly on his way to Wapenamanda from his village in the Tsak valley (within the same district) when he was attacked.

He was allegedly attacked with his armed body guard by a group of men from a neighboring tribe, over a sorcery related issue.

This Bill will see the Court of Appeals come between the National and Supreme Court. The third and final reading of the Bill was supposed to have gone through in the last sitting of Parliament, however, that was not done.  It remains on parliament’s list of unfinished business.

“I’m not particularly happy with the way the passage of that constitution amendment has taken place in the last term of parliament and I’m hopeful the third reading will take place in the current term of parliament,” Sir Salamo said.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia during directions hearing listed the reference to go in the October Supreme Court sitting for summary determination or judgment to be entered without a full trial or hearing taking place by all parties.

It will come before court on October 31 for determination.

The reference seeks interpretation of section 50 of the Constitution (Right To Vote And Stand For Public Office) and section 153A of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections (Excluding Ballot-Box From Scrutiny) remains.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said this when granting a request made by the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia during the two-day judges’ workshop on election petition.

Sir Salamo made a request to Commissioner Gamato to provide those documents to the Court registry from all the electorates for their records in preparation for the upcoming election petitions.

“We will make it available this election,” Gamato told the judges.

The request was made after lawyers gave a perspective of election petitions during the workshop.

Payments for service, independent appointment of village court officials and designated areas to carry out court functions are three areas that need improvement in the village court level.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia outlined these areas of concerns during his recent visit to Bereina in Central Province, saying they are areas that the government must look into as areas of concerns.

This is because the village courts hear 80 percent of disputes at the village level before it goes to the district courts or the higher courts.

That dispute was solved in 2015 and the Judiciary took all steps to come up with a new design, and a contract for the construction.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia said these when clearing the misconception on the delay of the project following a ground breaking ceremony for a new court complex for Wewak back in 2004.

“There are some misconception out there, that the money given to the judiciary, K10 million some years ago has gone missing,” he said.

It aims to assist judges, magistrates, lawyers and other court users in civil procedures or cases in the National Court.

The book titled Civil Procedure in Papua New Guinea, National Court of Justice, is the second resource book under civil procedures.

The first was launched on December 21 last year. It was written by Sir Salamo and a retired judge, Gregory Lay.