Czuba to know fate next week

SUSPENDED Higher Education secretary Fr Jan Czuba will know his fate next week when the Waigani National Court hands down a decision on charges of abuse of office and official corruption against him.
Justice Laura Kuvi, during the submissions hearing yesterday, said the case was “bizarre” in that the state’s evidence was presented by the defence in their submission.
She said statements by the state’s witness were inconsistent with the charges and facts presented. Defence lawyer Edward Sasingian filed a no-case application, asking the court to drop the charges against Czuba on the grounds that the state’s evidence was insufficient and irrelevant.
He submitted that the state had failed to provide the evidence of the agreement Czuba was alleged to have entered into with the company PCG Academia.
Sasingian also referred to state witness, DHERST deputy secretary for finance Ruth Philip’s statement, that there were 11 different agreements set in making a payment of K1.3 million to PCG and Alpha Net Solutions in 2018.
Payment was for licensing and software maintenance for the online selection system which the prosecution had presented as one agreement.
He further submitted that state had not provided evidence of meeting minutes and documents to support other allegations that Czuba had directed a payment of K109,791.40 to the Global Travel Centre to facilitate student travel in 2018.
He said the state’s allegations against Czuba of facilitating the payments to PCS Academia and Global Travel agency were prejudicial to the state.
He said the court had given opportunity to the state witness to explain what happened, but the prosecution had limited their questions.
“Due to this, the trial has not assisted the court as it should under the professional conduct rule,” Sasingian said.
Samantha Mosoro, from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, said they only relied on the brief provided by the investigation team.
Mosoro apologised to the court for lumping payments made on different agreements together and misleading the court.
Sasingain filed an application to refer Public Prosecutor Trish Aihi and Mosoro to the Lawyers’ Statutory Committee for breaching the lawyers’ professional code of conduct in misleading the court.