Judge adjourns Parkop’s case

By KARO JESSE
A JUDGE yesterday adjourned a contempt case filed against National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop to allow him to continue attending the current session of Parliament.
Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ordered that Parkop and two of his senior National Capital District Commission officers return to court on Nov 5.
“There should be some understanding that parliament is in session,” Justice Kandakasi said.
“First of all, the governor needs to be excused.
“There should be some respect.
“The governor will (return to court) when parliament is adjourned.”
Parkop, deputy city manager Ken Atasoa, and director of the urban safety division Paul Komboi presented themselves at the National Court in Waigani to give their plea on the contempt charges in relation to a land dispute with the TST Group of Companies.
The National Court had declared on May 19 that Capital Centre Ltd (CCL) the registered owner of the piece of land and allowed it to erect a standard fence around it.
CCL is a subsidiary of the TST group of companies.
The company, after being allowed by the court to fence a piece of land it owns at 5-Mile in Port Moresby, filed the contempt case when the fencing was demolished allegedly on the instruction of Parkop and city officials.
Yesterday, lawyer Jason Brooks of Ashurst representing the three, said Parkop had to be present in court yesterday despite the parliament session because there was a threat of being issued a bench warrant if he failed to do so.
Justice Kandakasi adjourned the case also because there were other cases filed on the same matter which parties should bring before one judge. Lawyer McRonald Nale of Jema Lawyers representing the company also served another set of contempt charges on Parkop and his officers yesterday.