Agreement signed for PNG judge to sit in Nauru’s appeals court

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By ALICE OSII
A SENIOR judge will be appointed to sit in Nauru’s Court of Appeal following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries yesterday in Port Moresby.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia agreed to the arrangement with his Nauru counterpart Justice Filimone Jitoko at the National Judicial Staff services conference room in Waigani.
The signing was witnessed by Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven, Nauru’s Supreme Court Registrar Ronald Prakash and Deputy Chief Justice of PNG Sir Gibbs Salika.
The PNG’s senior judge’s name will be announced when the appointment is made by the government of Nauru.
Sir Salamo Injia said areas of judicial cooperation included the provision and exchange of technical and other expertise, technical information, advice and support, workshops, conferences, seminars and symposia.
It will also include study visits, work attachments, exchange of materials and other legal resources.
The PNG judiciary will also assist in judicial services and electronic case management to Nauru.
The term is for five years.
“The PNG judiciary will provide a senior judge to sit on the newly established Court of Appeal which is the highest court in Nauru,” he said.
Chief Justice Jitoko said the Court of Appeal was established in May this year to replace the High Court of Australia as the final Appeal Court to Nauru.
“Today marks a new beginning in Nauru’s judiciary into the future,” Justice Jitoko said.
“The Nauru judiciary will be the first to admit that it stands to benefit much more from the implementation of this agreement.
Steven said the Papua New Guinea Government had endorsed the memorandum.