Fraud heads appear in court

 By DEMAS TIEN

Heads of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Mathew Damaru and Timothy Gitua appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday after the court restrained them from engaging legal representation from any law firm.

Damaru told the court yesterday that they (him and Gitua) did get an approval from the Attorney-General regarding their legal representation and the approval was stated in the evidence that was put before the court. 

Justice Derek Hartshorn told Damaru that the approval was not brought to the attention of the court. 

A full Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Hartshorn, Justice Collin Makail and Justice Don Sawong handed an unanimous decision on Wednesday restraining Damaru and Gitua from engaging any law firm to represent them in an appeal filed by Finance Minister James Marape until further court orders.

The court ruled that Damaru and Gitua were joined in this proceeding as police officers and servants of the State concerning matters arising out of their services and duties in the course of their employment by the State, they were required to obtain the approval of the Attorney-General for their legal representation in the Marape’s appeal. 

Marape’s appeal was related to the National Court decision of July 31, 2014, which refused to restrain the police from arresting him and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

Lawyers representing Damaru and Gitua were not present in court yesterday because of the court’s decision on Wednesday.

The court gave them 14 days to apply to the Attorney General for their legal representation.