Task Force Sweep case adjourned

The National Court today extended the interim orders issued on Tuesday last week where the NEC decision to disband Investigation Taskforce Sweep was stayed.

The court also made it clear today that the two suspended Chief Detectives of the Police Fraud Squad who are also members of ITFS, can resume work, as the orders staying the NEC decision covered everyone working within ITFS.

The court also gave orders preventing ITFS Chairman, Sam Koim from using the media, including Social Media to discuss this matter.

The National Court adjourned the stay application by Sam Koim’s lawyers to July 28th, that’s two weeks from now. The interim orders staying the NEC decision to abolish ITFS have also been extended until the matter returns to court on that date.

Jema Lawyers, representing Sam Koim, made submissions for the interim orders to continue, pending the outcome of the substantive matter.

They said the disbanding of ITFS has jeopardised both completed and ongoing investigations citing instances, where lawyers representing Paraka wrote to Police Prosecutors handling this case to withdraw all proceedings for reasons that ITFS has been disbanded.

Manuel Varitomos from the Queens Counsel, represented the Prime Minister and both parties made lengthy submissions, Varitomos asking the courts to dismiss the entire proceeding for reasons of incompetence.  

Varitomos also argued that Koim’s contract with ITFS had expired by the time he had asked for a judicial review, and that the interim order should not be stayed.

To this, Koim’s lawyer said a clause in the contract indicated that a three month notice be given to his client.

The court also ordered Sam Koim not to use the media including Social Media to discuss issues that are before the court.

Koim’s counsel also asked the court to reinstate suspended Chief Investigation Officers of the Police Fraud Squad, Matthew Damaru and Timothy Gitua, as they were members of ITFS.

The court said they were part of ITFS and with the court’s decision to stay the NEC decision; they can resume work with the team.

PNG Today/EMTV