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By PETER MIVA
THE Lae National Court has ordered Telikom PNG Ltd to pay K7,877.64 a
month in rent to the landlord of the Taraka telephone exchange premises.
Justice Sao Gabi made the ruling last Tuesday following a dispute over
rental figures between the landlord Isaac Minicus and Telikom PNG Ltd.
The matter went to court initially on Aug 8, with Mr Minicus seeking
K37,500 monthly rental but Justice Gabi ordered Telikom to pay only
K3,438.80 a month for occupying one third of the premises backdated to
the date of purchase after calculation of the rent with the help of an
accountant and a valuer.
Justice Gabi subsequently ordered the parties to resolve the issue
before last Friday but the parties through their counsel informed the
court that they had disagreed on the rental figure of K3,438.80.
He ruled that the court should not impose a figure but instead assist
the parties to come to an agreement on a figure and play a mediatory
role.
Mr Minicus had then written to Telikom to vacate the premises within a
month and demanded it settle the outstanding of K654,996.59 backdated to
March last year.
Justice Gabi ruled that Telikom needed more than one month to relocate
to new premises and any negotiation must be done at arms length and that
no party must be placed in a vulnerable position.
The court heard that Telikom had agreed to increase its rent offer to
K7,877.60 a month.
Justice Gabi told the court that whilst Mr Minicus had rejected the
offer, common sense dictates that some rent must be paid for the
continued occupation of the property.
He subsequently ruled that Telikom should pay K7,877.80 per month
commencing this month.
He further ruled that Telikom shall have access to the Taraka Exchange
between 10am and noon, and 2pm and 4pm every day until further orders or
such time it vacates the property.
Justice Gabi also ordered that Mr Minicus shall allow reasonable time
for Telikom to vacate the premises.
 
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