national court

 Martin Paul Kume was committed to stand trial for wilfully and unlawfully murdering his younger brother (Tony Paul) at Erima in Port Moresby on February 3 this year. 

It is alleged Kume killed his brother after both men had an argument over a string bilum at their family home.

The committal court found there was enough evidence against the accused to warrant his committal for trial.

Magistrate Cosmos Bidar said Kume used a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother on the left side of his neck and back which affected one of his main arteries.

Greg Egan and Terry Lambert have been banned from entering the country by Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura since September 8.

On that day  Mr Rabura sent a letter to all international operating airlines and all PNG provincial borders and ports that there was an indefinite ban being imposed on Egan and Lambert.

Egan is an Australian citizen who has been practising in PNG since 1988 while Lambert has been acting as a junior counsel to Egan.

Justice Cannings issued the orders from Kimbe on Tuesday (August 25) for the Secretary for Finance and the Secretary of Treasury to make available K400, 000 to four authorities.

He ordered for K100, 000 to be made available to the West New Britain Provincial Government, K50,000 to the Kimbe General Hospital, K150,000 to Water PNG and K100,000 to the Correctional service who will then work towards ensuring prisoners at Lakiemata have access to free flowing water.

One of the bloggers known as Johnny Young on Facebook has been removed from the list of first respondents after it was found the account did not have the real identity of the person behind the Facebook account.

This now leaves Sonja Barry Ramoi and three other bloggers as the first respondents in the defamation suit.

Lawyer Representing Konga Edward Wamp appeared before Justice Ere Kariko today(August 28) with the application to remove Johnny Young.

Acting judge Leka Nablu in her ruling today refused to grant Eluh leave for a judicial review against his transfer to the New Guinea Islands region as the Divisional Commander.

She also refused leave for the judicial review to have Eluh reinstated to the post of Assistant Police Commissioner Crimes.

As the former top cop waited in the National Court’s holding cell, one of his lawyers, Sam Bonner filed an urgent application for bail with the Supreme Court.

Bonnar told PNG Loop an application has been filed before the Chief Justice.

He said the process now will be for the Chief Justice to appoint another judge, depending on their availability, to hear the application.

At around 11am, Vaki was sentenced by the National Court to 3 years hard labour for failing to effect the warrant of arrest against Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.

This is in relation to his failure to serve a warrant of arrest on Prime Minister Peter O'Neil.

More to come on Loop PNG.     

Justice Collin Makail siting as a single Supreme Court judge asked lawyers to make further submissions as to whether he has jurisdiction to grant stay as a single judge.

Makail made this comments following a similar application that came before him last year where he granted a stay order that was later dismissed.

He asked lawyers representing the state and Micah to provide before his court previous case laws that states a single sitting judge in the Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to grant stay on an application.

 Vaki was found guilty of contempt by the National Court yesterday for willfully refusing to execute a warrant of arrest against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill last year.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia allowed the release on Vaki on his own recognizance.

This means no bail money needs to be paid to the court.

It is an obligation of record; entered into before a court whereby the party bound acknowledges (recognizes) that they owe a personal debt to the state.

Vaki’s submissions for sentence will be done by John Griffin from Queen’s Council next Thursday.