Lawyers urged to be honest

By TABITHA NERO
A MAGISTRATE says lawyers have a duty not only to their clients but also to the court to be honest and truthful.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar told the Waigani Committal Court that based on the honesty and truthfulness of lawyers, the court could make decisions which were “just and fair”.
Bidar was commenting on a defence lawyer’s application to disqualify police prosecutor Chief Inspector Stanley Poga in the case involving Chuave MP Wera Mori who is charged with official corruption. He was represented by lawyer Adam Ninkama.
Bidar ruled that Poga was in breach of Section 10, (1), (b) of the Professional Conduct Rules.
The court heard that Poga, who was involved in a joint investigation with the Ombudsman Commission, had executed a warrant of arrest granted on Nov 15 last year for the arrest of Mori.
Ninkama argued that the manner in which the warrant was executed was unlawful and breached the Professional Conduct Rules.
Mori was alleged to have funded some police officers to investigate allegations against former Chuave MP Jim Nomane.
Police alleged that Mori misappropriated about K40,000 of the Chuave district funds around July last year.
Bidar granted a two-week adjournment so that a new prosecutor be found. The matter will return to court on Oct 27.