Landowners’ K19.2mil locked

By KARO JESSE
THE Hela government through a court order has restrained the trust accounts of 15 law firms that were paid K19.2 million belonging to landowner groups and individuals of Hides PDL 1.
The money was allocated by the national government as business development grants for the Hides PDL1 landowners which was paid into the trust account of the Hela government.
With much litigation process since 2015, on Dec 19, the National Court moved the money to its trust account after the landowners (plaintiffs) agreed to share the money and came up with a consented order which the court endorsed on Dec 24.
The landowners agreed in the consented order for the money to be paid into their respective lawyer’s trust accounts.
On Jan 4, the Hela government, through lawyer Paul Mawa, applied in the Waigani National Court and restrained the trust accounts of lawyers who had received the money.
Mawa obtained the restraining order on the basis that the provincial government was not advised on the court hearing on Dec 24, on which the consented order was made.
The case returned yesterday for argument on the interim restraining orders that restrained the lawyers’ accounts.
However, Justice Derek Hartshorn granted an application by Mawa to adjourn the matter to Monday to effect service of court files on all parties.
Mawa was granted the restraining order despite on Dec 24, a lawyer from the solicitor-general’s office informed the court that Mawa Lawyers did not have instructions from the attorney-general to represent the Hela government which convinced the judge.