By JULIA DAIA BORE
LAWYERS and magistrates throughout PNG and overseas have expressed sadness at the death of Supreme and National Court judge Justice Moses Jalina in Mt Hagen last week.
President of the PNG Law Society Kerenga Kua said the sudden passing of Justice Jalina came as a great shock to all lawyers both in the country and overseas who are members of the PNG Law Society.
Mr Kua described Justice Jalina as “highly regarded” by the law fraternity and members of the public at large for his understanding of and application of the law to all cases that he had dealt with.
“Lawyers and litigants alike have always looked forward to having their cases heard before Justice Jalina because he always saw to it that justice was done.
“Justice Jalina, during his term firstly as a government lawyer and later as a judge, has diligently served the country with total dedication.
“And his death will leave a great vacuum on the bench. His active and astute dialogue on the bench with lawyers and litigants will be greatly missed,” he said.
President of the Magistrates Association of Papua New Guinea Iova Geita said magistrates in the country were saddened by the untimely death of Justice Jalina.
Mr Geita, who is based in Lae as senior provincial magistrate, said from his Lae office that the late Justice Jalina lived a simple and humble life and worked tirelessly as a judge in Wabag.
“Justice Jalina was also a very keen supporter of the juvenile justice reform process in PNG.
“He was well liked by many people including magistrates who worked along side him in Wabag,” he said.
Justice Jalina’s funeral arrangement began on Dec 20 at Gerehu, Port Moresby until yesterday.
A funeral service will be held for the late judge today beginning at 10am in Wabag, Enga province.
This would be followed by another funeral service in Port Moresby’s Sioni Kami Memorial church, beginning at 10am on Friday.
Other funeral service details will be provided in due course.