Companies ask for PM’s affidavit to COI

By AILEEN KWARAGU
THE Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sale and purchase of the Motukea Wharf in Port Moresby has been asked to provide documents relating to Prime Minister James Marape and the Lands Department summons by close of business today.
Senior counsel helping COI Gibson Geroro said they would work to settle the terms of the five documents by companies Curtain Brothers and Balimore No.39 Ltd that were tendered by the commission.
Counsel representing the companies Mel Varitimos said once they received the documents from Geroro, it would be considered and they would work within the deadline of COI.
“Our clients have made it clear that they do not wish to cross-examine witnesses due to the time frame of the COI,” he said,
“Therefore, through that, our clients continue to be provided with natural justice and procedural fairness.”
Lawyer representing the companies, Derick Wood, said their requests were in relation to Marape’s affidavit that was presented to COI on Nov 7 for Geroro to provide them with certain documents.
“Documents to be provided would be the summons issued to Marape and the schedules including the National Executive Council decisions that Marape had in his affidavit,” Wood said,
“The other documents would be copies of the letter of intent that was issued to Marape and all correspondents between Geroro and Marape’s lawyers relevant to the COI.”
Geroro said those matters would be settled as directed by COI.
The summons on the two companies will return to the COI on Nov 29 for mention.
Key witnesses in the inquiry should help the commission as it was nearing its final stages, commissioner Sike Julian Toulik said.
“The directions were clearly made in relation to the evidences and statements that were educed to the commission,” he said.
“The only thing needed was to deal with questions raised in light of those evidences and statements which includes Marape’s statements.”
Toulik said his appeal for key witnesses to help the inquiry was due to their participation when they would be needed for cross-examination.
“If the witnesses statement needs to be examined, COI will do it and the concerns should be clear,” he said.
He said he was faced with challenges and needed to complete the task, so his appeal should not be seen lightly.
He made the remarks after adjourning relating to matters of person of interests in COI or landowners involved to Nov 29.
Geroro said all applications for the landowners would be listed for mention on Dec 1 or after.
Toulik said the COI would accept all landowners to attend COI to deal with their applications.