Czuba files for contempt against Hualupmomi

The National National
Former Higher Education, Science and Research Technology Department (DHEST) secretary Fr Jan Czuba (left) and his lawyer Edward Sasingian at Waigani National Court yesterday. – Nationalpic by CLARISSA MOI

FORMER Higher Education, Science and Research Technology Department (DHEST) secretary Fr Jan Czuba has filed a contempt of court proceeding against secretary Dr Francis Hualupmomi for not paying his full salaries.
This was because a court order on May 12 for Czuba to be under full pay pending his case challenging his suspension had been breached.
Czuba, through his lawyer Edward Sasingian at Waigani National Court yesterday before Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, said his pay had been fluctuating since his suspension even though the court had ordered that he be paid his full pay.
Kevin Kiponge, acting for the State, said Czuba’s payments were made but due to some technical errors, the department was only able to pay some of his entitlements.
Lawyer Justin Wohuinangu, representing Hualupmomi, said a total of K120,000 was paid to Czuba as of yesterday.
Meanwhile, Sasingian had challenged Wohuinangu’s appearance in court as lawyer for Hualupmomi, saying Wohuinangu did not obtain approval from Attorney General (AG) Pila Niningi to appear in the proceeding.
Sasingian said the brief out that Wohuinangu obtained was from Justice Secretary Dr Eric Kwa and not from the AG.
“Permission for legal representation must be obtained from the rightful authority,” he said.
Kiponge said a brief out for legal representation for State agencies was decided by the AG advisory council which Kwa was part of.
“The brief out was given for Wohuinangu to appear in this matter,” Kiponge said.
Wohuinangu said he had no issue with his appearance as he was given permission by the AG’s office. Deputy Chief Justice Kandakasi then reminded the parties saying Czuba
was granted leave for judicial review and the matter came before the court yesterday for hearing on the substantive matter which was the appeal for his suspension. “However, we now have a notice of motion for contempt of court and issues on legal representation,” he said.
The matter returns today for hearing on the motion and the substantive matter.