Court refuses claim

THE Waigani National Court has denied a man’s claim of K30,000 in damages against a security firm after finding there was no proper contract entered into by both parties.
Justice Royale Thompson yesterday refused the claim of Southern Highlander Steven Sawe, who made the claims against Ken Padapu, another Southern Highlander, and his security firm (Ex-Disciplinary Forces Security Services). Sawe claimed that he worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week at a property in Koki, Port Moresby, between Feb, 2013, and July 22, 2015, and carried out maintenance work during the time after he and Padapu had entered into an verbal agreement that he would work for Padapu and be rewarded with free board at a property in Koki and then at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration (PNGIPA).
Pudapu’s security firm had won a contract for services at PNGIPA.
The court held that no particulars regarding the hours and dates Sawe worked were pleaded, with the actual amounts paid.
The court found that separate pay slips were also provided.
One pay slip stated that Sawe was a painter, while the other pay slips had another name on them.
Justice Thompson said the issue before the court was whether or not the agreement was a contract of employment between Sawe and Padapu.
“There was certainly no written contract,” Thompson said.
“The plaintiff was living in a property at Koki from February 2013 to October 2014.”