Court stays proceedings against official

 THE Committal Court in Waigani has stayed proceedings against Yori Yei, the PNG National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) secretary-general, as ordered by the National Court last week.

Senior magistrate Cosmas Bidar said the order on Oct 17 by the higher court would remain in force until it made a determination on Yei’s appeal against his displacement from the position by the State.

Port Moresby police had arrested and charged Yei in July over administrative issues relating to the office of the general secretary of the PNG Commission for Unesco.

Yei had been fighting his job displacement through the courts since February. 

Last Tuesday, he obtained restraining orders in the National Court against Public Service Minister Puka Temu, Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali and Public Service Commission chairman Dr Philip Kereme.

Justice John Gawi had ordered the three Government officers be restrained “from dealing with any issues relating to the position of the secretary-general of the PNG National Commission for Unesco until such time the substantive issue in this proceeding is determined by the court”.

Gawi had found the contemnor in these proceedings, one Andrew Angobe, guilty of contempt and ordered police to have him placed in custody.