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PUBLIC Prosecutor Joel Done was
fined K750 yesterday by the National Court as penalty for contempt of
court.
Mr Done, who was present at the ruling yesterday by Justice Mark Sevua,
heard that while he did not deliberately intent to deter the due
administration of justice, his actions did amount to contempt.
The charges stemmed from his failure to turn up at court in Kokopo on
June 5 and 6 this year when the National Court was on circuit in the
East New Britain province.
His absence resulted in the court acquitting a man accused of armed
robbery to walk free.
He was cited for contempt and spent a night at the Kerevat jail before
being released on K100 bail. Justice Sevua was the circuit judge during
this time.
Mr Done, a former police for 16 years with an unblemished record,
recently became a lawyer with the office of the public prosecutors and
was a first time offender before the court. He was found guilty of the
charge on July 20.
His boss, acting Public Prosecutor Jack Pambel, his deputy Camilus
Sambua and administration officer Dorothy Kakot were also cited for
contempt for failing to show respect and courtesy to the court by not
notifying the court of Mr Done’s absence due to travel arrangements.
They were out on K300 bail and await determination of their contempt
charges from another judge.
Yesterday, Justice Sevua said lawyers had a professional and ethical
duty to appear in court and that it far outweighed the funding issues of
their administrational offices as was in the present case.
He said this was not an excuse but is unfortunately becoming a trend for
non-appearance in court for state lawyers in Waigani and only showed a
notorious arrogance towards the court.
He said the courts were too lenient on such lawyers and needed to take a
hard line as they must be decisive to punish lawyers who interfere with
the course of justice.
 
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