national court

Judge disqualifies himself sitting in Paraka case

This proceeding relates to the alleged fraudulent payments in the years 2012 and 2013 of over K71million by the State through the Department of Finance for legal bills of Paul Paraka trading as Paul Paraka Lawyers.

Justice Kariko disqualified himself early this week after an application (filed Oct 28,2016) which he was asked to look into, relied on an earlier interlocutory decision he made.

Contempt motion against Koim adjourned

The matter briefly came for mention today before Justice Collin Makail, who adjourned the case to next year because the lawyer representing the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, did not confirm instructions on the next step in their motion.

The motion was filed on March 2, 2016, by O’Neill seeking contempt charges against Koim.

It is asking the National Court to punish Koim on contempt allegations that he breached an order of July 16, 2014, against discussing matters relating to the Task Force Sweep Team in the media.

Asylum seekers pursue review against State

The section 5 notice or notice of claims was served on the State and PNG Immigration in November, and the Solicitor General, who represents the State in civil claim matters, rejected the notice.

It was rejected because the new Supreme Court case filed by the 731 asylum seekers, seeking enforcement orders from the Namah Supreme Court case of April 26, was filed out of time.

LOOP PNG’s 5@5

 Maru not happy with number of people working in NZ, Australia

The Papua New Guinea Government will push for New Zealand to include a clause on fruit picking in a Bilateral Trade Agreement for both Pacific Islands Forum member nations.

http://www.looppng.com/content/maru-not-happy-number-people-working-nz-australia

 

UPNG student leaders’ accommodation issue back in court

5000 bench warrants yet to be executed

He said these 5000 outstanding bench warrants do not include the warrants of arrest issued by the District Courts of the Magisterial Services around the country.

With the signing of an MoU between the Judiciary services, Police and the Sheriff Service today for them to work together, Sir Salamo is hopeful that figure will be decreased as Police and the Sheriff services will assist the courts carry out its functions in the country.

No update yet from Immigration on Woo’s review

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.”

Decision on death of Enga man next month

Jeffery Pitu, Jacob Lais and Newman Upas, from Wapenamanda District, were in court on Friday where submissions were made to assist the court reach a verdict.

Their lawyer submitted that Matthew Masket died as a result of the impact of the car crash at the tunnel between Stop N Shop and the RSPCA clinic.

The lawyer said the State’s evidence against the three is circumstantial or indirect evidence, which does not show that they are responsible for Masket’s murder.

Woman guilty for stealing over K200,000 phone credits

Glenda Nugai was found guilty by the Court today after she admitted to allegations she transferred K232,000 worth of Digicel credits on 25 different occasions to a man, known to the court as Norman Ilikis, who sold the credits.

This allegedly took place between a period of three months, from 21 Nov 2014 to Jan 31, 2015.

PX appeals stay on pilots’ termination

The granting of leave by the National Court on Oct 7 saw the court stay the termination of the respective pilots affected.

The appeal Air Niugini filed came before Justice Stephen Kassman on Tuesday this week, however, it was adjourned to next week Monday. It is expected to return before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

Air Niugini filed the appeal on grounds the judicial review in the National Court is an abuse of process because Air Niugini is subject to Company Act and its decisions cannot be reviewed through a judicial review proceeding.

PNGRFL yet to respond to trademark claim

The PNGRFL was listed as the complainant in a major counterfeit case involving eight Chinese nationals.

After 12 months in the National Court, State lawyers withdrew the matter this month, after finding out that the trademark logo used on shirts sold in the shops of these Chinese wasn’t registered by the complainant.

Over 10,000 jerseys and polo shirts were confiscated by police last year.

PNGRFL told this newsroom that their lawyer is still going through Court files and the PNGRFL CEO, Sandis Tsaka, will respond once advised.