Kalaut seeking restraining order

By KARO JESSE
DISMISSED Asst Police Commissioner (human resource) Sylvester Kalaut will seek a restraining order from court, according to his lawyer David Dotaona.
Dotaona told the court yesterday that Kalaut had been arrested twice by police for allegations of misappropriation and perverting the course of justice.
The court was told that the arrest came after Kalaut was granted leave by the National Court for a judicial review of the National Executive Council (NEC) decision on Dec 6, to appoint David Manning as Police Commissioner.
The judicial review was filed by Kalaut and former deputy commissioner (operations) Fred Yakasa in a joint application with contentions of alleged procedural breaches in the process of appointing Manning.
Dotaona said police had been intimidating and threatening Kalaut for taking Manning’s appointment to court and his client was seeking a restraining order to bar the police from interfering.
He also told The National that Kalaut was invited by the police internal affairs investigation unit for an interview on Tuesday, for taking the matter to court which they (police) viewed as an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights and authority of the commissioner who was also the state of emergency controller.
Yakasa called on the police to refrain from intimidating and harassing Kalaut.
“The matter is regarding a public office and we have the right to come to court so we must leave the matter for the court to decide and all should refrain from interfering,” He said.
Meanwhile, the State filed an application to appeal the decision by Justice David Cannings which granted leave to the joint application by Kalaut and Yakasa for a judicial review of the NEC decision.
However, Cannings proceeded with directing the defendants in the matter to file supporting affidavits by June 5, and a pre-trial conference to be heard on June 15 and trial to be heard on June 18.
The matter will return to court today for mention.