Timothy Gitua

Twivey committed for trial

Magistrate John Kaumi, of the Waigani Committal Court, on Thursday ordered the committal of the case after she chose to exercise her right and remain silent in response to the allegations against her in the lower court.

She is expected to appear for listing at the National Court on March 20. She is on an extended bail of K1000.

She was charged on April 11, 2016, with one count of perverting the course of justice.

Court sets aside cops' joinder in PM’s warrant case

A three-man Supreme Court bench allowed an appeal by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and set aside the joinder of Matthew Damaru and Timothy Gitua in the judicial review proceeding that was filed by Geoffrey Vaki in his capacity as the Police Commissioner (then) in 2014.

Justices Derek Hartshorn, Stephen Kassman, and Ambeng Kandakasi in a unanimous decision found that the National Court judge fell into error when he allowed the joinder of the two on Dec 7,2015.

Trial date set for Eluh, Gitua hearing

Eluh and Gitua filed two separate judicial reviews in October last year following their termination over disciplinary reasons on September 23 and 28 respectively.

Their terminations have been stayed since Oct 30, 2015, pending the outcome of this review.

A trial date has been set for Oct 7 that will come before Justice Collin Makail in the National Court.

Review books were filed by parties on Wednesday this week. The trial will be conducted by way of affidavits or statements and arguments in court. No witnesses will be called to give evidence.

Court prioritises Baki’s appeal against officers

The full court allowed Baki leave to appeal the decision of the National Court when it allowed for a judicial review to be conducted into the manner in which Thomas Eluh and Timothy Gitua were terminated from office in September last year.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, Justice Ere Kariko and Justice Sir Kina Bona allowed for Baki to appeal that decision and also stayed the judicial review at the National Court pending the outcome of this appeal before the full court.

PM O’Neill loses bid to prevent anti-corruption investigation

This follows a PNG Supreme Court ruling today dismissing O’Neill’s  attempt to stop the Task Force Sweep from investigating him.

A three-man bench of the Supreme Court at 9.30 am dismissed all orders preventing  the Task Force Sweep from further investigating the matter.

Police Union: Gitua and Damaru internal case

Union President Lowa Tambua says that the case of Mathew Damaru and Timothy Gitua were more along the lines of being an internal administrative matter.

He outlined that in the past during the previous tenure of commissioners like Tom Kulunga, Geoffrey Vaki and Gari Baki  the union has been vocal over what they see as political interference.

Tambua reiterated that constant and continual political manoeuvring is detrimental to the welfare and employment conditions of police which is the very thing that the union is in place to fight for.

PM’s lawyers appeal against joiner in High Court

The application was moved by Mal Varitimos in court today before Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, one day after a trial date was set at the National Court for the Judicial Review into the manner in which the warrant against the Prime Minister was obtained from the District Court in 2014.

The trial date at the National Court was set for March 3.

Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Matthew Damaru and his deputy Director Timothy Gitua were allowed joiner in the proceeding by Justice Collin Makail on Dec 7,2015.

Supreme Court refuses Baki’s appeal

Sitting as a single Supreme Court Judge in the matter today, Justice Collin Makail refused an application filed by the State and Commissioner Baki.

The application seeks leave to appeal the decisions of the National Court handed down on Oct 30, 2015 by acting Judge Leka Nablu (then) in two proceedings when she allowed leave for a judicial review to be conducted into the manner in which senior cops Thomas Eluh and Timothy Gitua were terminated.

Court allows review leave for sacked top cops

Eluh is the Assistant Police Commissioner (Crimes) and Gitua is the Assistant Director for the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Acting Judge Leka Nablu granted leave for both officers, ordering that they file a notice of motion within seven days from today (30 Oct).

She ordered the matter return for inter-parties hearing on November 5 while the stay on their termination has also been extended to next Friday.

The matter will also go on the fast track list for it to be dealt with quickly.

Stay on dismissal a first for PNG says top cop

He said this in reference to the court granting stay orders on the dismissals of  senior officers Thomas Eluh and Timothy Gitua.

Their lawyers obtained a stay from the National Court today after parties agreed to the stay until the matter returns to court on October 21 for full hearing.

Today’s ruling is believed to mean that the two officers termination cannot be enforced  until at least October 21 or when the stay order is removed by the court.