By VERONICA MANUK
TWO senior officials of the New Ireland provincial government, who had been charged for allegedly defaming a senior magistrate, appeared on Tuesday before the Kavieng District Court.
Deputy Governor Derol Maisi and the first secretary to the governor’s office Dr Sition Gion, appeared for mention and had their case adjourned for trial to Feb 27 because magistrate Thomas Vogusang who presided over the case, disqualified himself to hear the matter.
Kavieng District Court would arrange for another magistrate outside of the province to hear the case.
The two officials were arrested and charged last month for allegedly defaming the senior magistrate Orim Karapo in a heated argument which was broadcast over the local radio.
In December last year the two magistrates– Mr Karapo and Mr Vogusang– were in court when these officials from the governor’s office fronted up at the Kavieng District Court house demanding the keys to a vehicle.
They also handed to the two magistrates a letter, which stated that the vehicle was illegally purchased.
Mr Karapo responded to Dr Gion in a letter that he could not comply with the directives because “as far as the magisterial service was concerned the vehicle was properly donated and received in good faith”.