Court to rule on stay order against Lelang tomorrow

National, Normal
Source:

The National – Monday, July 4th 2011

 By JACOB POK

JUSTICE Nicholas Kirriwom will rule tomorrow on whether to grant a stay order on Joseph Lelang’s reinstatement as national planning and monitoring secretary.

He made the announcement last Friday after earlier reprimanding Lelang’s lawyer, Philemon Korowi, for arriving late in the Supreme Court where the state’s application was being heard.

Korowi is defending Lelang in a stay application filed by Public Service Minister Moses Maladina, who is seeking to revoke Lelang’s reinstatement.

Korowi arrived 45 minutes late and told the court he had not received any notice of the hearing and was unaware of it.

But Kirriwom told Korowi: “I have made extensive enquires as to whether all parties were aware of the hearing of the matter. My associate told me your office was advised on the hearing of the matter this afternoon.”

Korowi entered the courtroom just as counsel assisting Maladina, Arnold Amet Junior, completed his submission.

Korowi asked the court for an adjournment as he needed to file a proper response. Kirriwom denied the request.

Maladina is seeking a court order to stay a National Court decision of May 31 which reinstated Lelang to his substantive position as secretary of national planning.

The application was filed on the basis that, among other things, there was an error in the judgment. 

Korowi opposed the application, arguing that there was no error in that decision and that the application for stay be refused.