The National Newspaper PNG 13 October 2005

Probe into sacking of magistrates

By JAMES APA GUMUNO

The Department of Justice and Attorney General will carry out an investigation in the sacking of Village Court magistrates and other Village Court officials (VCO) in the Western Highlands province.
Director for Village Court Secretariat in the country, Penny Keris, said yesterday the removal and appointment of new magistrates in the province were done without the knowledge and directives from Justice Minister Mark Maipkai or the department.
He said two officials from the department would be travelling to the province to investigate the matter, adding they were surprised to see the news article in The National on Monday and commended the newspaper for bringing it out.
Mr Keris said Village Court magistrates were part of the Justice and Attorney General’s Department, and only the department had the power to revoke or appoint new magistrates.
He said under the transferred functions, each province could appoint or revoke the appointments of other village court officials but not magistrates.
It appears powers were abused and proper procedures not followed in the removal of these officials and magistrates, he said in reference to the sacking of 58 village court officials in the Jimi district in August.
Mr Keris said he was also aware that some magistrates from Hagen Central were sacked, but that would be confirmed following an investigation.
He said the department was looking after the officials in terms of allowance, training and inspections.
Mr Keris said K4 million was allocated this year for the VCO in the country, of which K357,400 was allocated for 1,130 officials in Western Highlands for their monthly allowance.
He said early this year he had asked the provincial administrators to get back to him if they had a shortfall but many provinces did not respond.
Morobe, East New Britain and NCD were the only ones that responded.