Cleared of corruption charge

By BOURA GORUKILA
HIGHER Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) secretary Fr Jan Czuba was yesterday cleared of the corruption charge he was facing because it was ambiguous.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Seth Tanei found that the information was ambiguous because there was no clarity as to who Fr Jan’s companies were and how he performed the act of corruption.
“In my finding, the information is ambiguous due to lack of clarity in the wording of the information itself, which puts Fr Jan not in a better position to defend himself in law to come up with a lawful defence” he said.
“I will strike out the information for being defective, Fr Jan has other charges pending and he will not be discharged. “For this information alone, the information is struck out for being defective on the basis that it is ambiguous.
“This does not stop the police from filing new information, however, that new information must be clear so that it gives an opportunity to the defendant to defend himself.”
Fr Jan’s lawyer Edward Sasingian applied last week to strike out the information on corruption charge.
His charge of abuse of office relating to him authorising a payment of K3,432 to a company, Diwai Pacific Ltd, remains.
The substantive matter returns on Feb 25.
Fr Jan, 61, of Poland, allegedly awarded contracts outside normal public tender and procurement processes, authorising payments to several companies that he was alleged to be a director and shareholder of, using the department’s funds for various services rendered to the department.
All allegations relate to a fraud investigation where a K4.2million belonging to the department was used in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when he was acting secretary.
Fr Jan was arrested by police in the National Capital District and charged.
His bail was extended.
Meanwhile, Fr Jan’s judicial review application to review the decision of Magistrate Tanei’s ruling of Jan 14, will be heard today by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi in the National Court.