Immigration staff to face court

By ANGELINE KARIUS
IMMIGRATION officials who defied a court order to allow deported businessman Graham Osborne back into the country have been ordered to appear in the National Court on Monday.
Justice George Manuhu said the immigration staff would have to explain why they did not allow Osborne entry into Papua New Guinea when he arrived on an Air Niugini flight from Brisbane on Monday.  
The National Court had ordered immigration officials to accept  Osborne’s entry permit and allow him into the country. But on arrival at Jacksons airport at 1.30pm on Monday, Osborne was denied entry despite presenting copies of the National Court orders to immigration officials.
Immigration officials at the airport refused to accept those orders.
The orders issued by the National Court were served to acting chief of immigration Joseph Nobetau twice last Friday and again on Monday.
 Manuhu yesterday ruled that the case be adjourned to 9.30am on Monday as the lawyer representing the first and second respondents needed time.  
Osborne’s lawyer John Gawi said the actions of the immigration officials were tantamount to contempt of court. He said his client would file contempt of court charges as well. 
Osborne, who runs a restaurant in Port Moresby, had been deported last month after his entry permit was cancelled by acting Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Jamie Maxtone-Graham for allegedly meddling in local politics.