Board seeks to review decision

By KARO JESSE
THE chairman of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (Opic), Stuart Tatauro, and its board have filed an urgent application seeking a judicial review of a decision by Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon to direct the board to reinstate former Opic general secretary Leslie Wungen.
Justice David Cannings, in the Waigani National Court, granted leave to lawyer representing Tatauro and Opic board yesterday to amend the application which is schedule to be heard on Monday.
The application seeks the leave of the court to review a decision by Simon which directed the board of Opic to reinstate Wungen.
The Opic board is concerned that the decision of the minister was a breach of court orders and sought the court’s review. According to the application for leave filed by Tatauro and the Opic board, Wungen illegally occupied the position after his appointment ended on Dec 10, 2018.
The Opic board claimed that Wungen was never reappointed in any capacity following expiration of his term.
Last Dec 5, the Opic board removed Wungen from illegal occupation of office and appointed Kepson Pupita to act in the position.
On Dec 19, Wungen challenged the Opic board’s decision in court and the court refused to reinstate him and the proceedings were dismissed.
Despite the court’s ruling, Simon, on March 30, issued directives that the appointment of Wungen as the acting general secretary for Opic, by the NEC on Sept 3, 2015, for an indefinite period was lawful and therefore, his termination by the Opic board was unlawful and wrong.
The minister ordered for the return of Wungen within five working days from the date of the issuance of the letter.
The Opic board alleged that Simon directly breached the court’s findings because he did not have the authority.