Landowner produces documents to warrant demolition exercise

THE owner of a piece of land that was the centre of attention at Hohola 2 in NCD this week has produced legal documents to support the demolition of a property.
The demolition of a house at section 18, lot 15, was carried out under police presence following orders by the courts.
Legal titles produced by landlord Maua Matakau showed that a piece of vacant land at section 18, lot 15, at Hohola 2 was awarded to him by the National Housing Corporation in 2003.
The transfer of title was signed by then managing director Walter Kapty and witnessed by corporate secretary Henry Kapal and lands commissioner Copland Sarmani.
He said after paying K5,000 for the land and having it registered under his son’s name, he had also been paying rental to the state for the land.
While this was going on, claimant Steven Peopokon, whose house was demolished this week, continued occupy the land.
The matter went to court on Sept 5, 2003, and the court ruled in favor of Matakau and issued an eviction order on Dec 5 that year.
In 2006 while Matakau, a policeman, was engaged in a state of emergency operations in the Southern Highlands, Peopokon went ahead and erected a trade store on that piece of land.
The matter was reported to the NCD physical planning board on Nov 17 last year.
Matakau said he had given the claimant seven years to vacate his land without luck.
He said a court warrant to take possession of the property was approved by police metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa on July 5 this year. 
“With the approval in hand, I went ahead with the demolition exercise under police presence.
“I have given the claimant enough time to vacate,” Matakau said.
“I have the legal title to the and have spend more than K30,000 since 2003 to reclaim the land, including paying annual rentals,” he said.