Klapat wins temporary stop on Dec 29 removal

By ANGELINE KARIUS
THE National Court has issued a restraining order against the government from effecting its decision to suspend Joseph Klapat as secretary for the Department of Community Development.
The national executive council made the decision on Dec 29, 2011.
Klapat sought the court’s intervention after he was suspended by the Peter O’Neill-led
government.
The National Court also ruled on Monday that Anna Solomon refrain from assuming the office as acting secretary pending the hearing of the substantive matter.
Klapat was suspended by Minister Andrew Mald after an audit report on the department last August carried out by the auditor-general claimed allegations of widespread mismanagement and abuse of power against his office.
Klapat was referred by Mald to the Public Services Commission.
He is arguing that on Nov 11, last year, the Commission had said it had found no prima facie case against him to warrant a suspension.
However, he was notified for the second time by Mald on Jan 16 that he was suspended.