national court

They gathered outside the court house today hoping to be the first to hear the outcome of the National Court’s decision over who will be the governor of the province.

Crowds of supporters gathered under the trees near the Court house gate entrance while another group gathered at the car park.

Police presence was also heavy outside the court house gate checking cars going in.

 Agiru was ousted as governor at a meeting conducted by Francis Potape and other members of the Hela Provincial Assembly on December 29 in Tari.

He returned to the National Court at Waigani this morning to move the notice of motion that was filed on January 4 (yesterday).

However the matter could not proceed any further as the motion was “short served’’ (insufficient notice) to Francis Potape’s lawyer Philip Ame just this morning.

The matter came before Justice Derek Hartshorn.

The platoon including their Commanding officer Major Benjamin Edimani all appeared before Justice Panuel Mogish for directions.

A verbal application was made by the Defense Force who was assisted by the Public Prosecutors to have the 11 men transferred to Bomana.

Presiding over the past two days, acting Judge Koeget questioned counsels who appeared in matters originating out of Port Moresby, why they were filed to be heard in Waigani and not in the provinces.

Koeget raised the issue on Tuesday during the vacation court sitting that dealt mainly with urgent application.

He raised the issued when dealing with a matter from the West New Britain Province.

Yesterday he also raised the issue of why proceedings from the provinces were filed at Waigani when hearing an urgent application from the Eastern Highlands Province.

 Court restrains Soso, PEC

Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso, the Eastern Highlands Provincial Executive Council, Public Service and the Department of Personnel Management have been restrained from pushing for the permanent appoint of the acting Provincial Administrator Samson.

http://www.looppng.com/content/court-restrains-soso-pec

Woman in "Condom saga" still at large

The youths are facing allegations of unlawfully attempting to kill a police officer based at the Gordon Police Barracks.

Miro Michael, Donald Nambia, Norris Saun and Valentine Michael were committed by the Waigani District Court to stand trial after the magistrate made a ruling on section 94(b)(1) of the District Court Act.

It is alleged that the four defendants on August 23, 2014 at the Gordon Police Barracks unlawfully attempted to kill another person.

The victim was a serving member of the Police Force living at the barracks.

Justice Collin Makail adjourned the matter from Thursday (Dec 10) for listing on February 2, 2016. He also indicated that the substantive matter which is the trial review into the manner in which that arrest warrant was issued by the District Court will return on that date.

Matthew Damaru and Timothy Gitua in their capacities as the director and deputy director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate are seeking to set aside the stay on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s arrest.

Gore filed the Judicial Review proceeding following the Leadership Tribunal recommendation on August 10 this year to suspend her from office for three months without entitlements. 

The recommendation came after members of the tribunal made up of Chairman Justice Poole and senior magistrates Mark Selefkariu and Ernest Wilmont found her guilty to one count of misconduct in office.

It ruled this morning to allow the tribunal to continue its sitting which will resume next week Monday (Nov 23).

Justice David Cannings however accepted Namah’s application to add the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia as one of the respondents in the proceeding at the National Court.

He ordered that Namah’s amended originating summons filed on November 12 be further amended to include Sir Salamo as the fourth defendant.

Members of the tribunal, Justice Goodwin Poole and senior magistrates Mark Selefkaru and Ernest Wilmont are the first respondents.

The trial or the judicial review was set down for November 19 and 20 however it will be held sometime after December 10.

The  trial was moved to a later date following an application for an adjournment that was filed by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s lawyers this morning.

O’Neill’s lawyers filed the application seeking an adjournment after they alleged that the chairman of the Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, breached an order of July 16, 2014 that was issued by Justice Les Gavara-Nanu.