Minister fails to appear

By GEORGINA KOREI
A CORONER’s inquiry has given Health Minister Dr Lino Tom seven weeks to seek any legal help he may need from the Attorney-General’s Office before he presents his independent inquiry report.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Josephine Kilage, who was chairing the Rex Wanzing’s coroner’s inquiry, adjourned the inquest to Jan 23, at the Port Moresby District Court and said that was the final adjournment.
“There is no further excuses and delay after this adjournment,” she said.
“The health minister must appear on Jan 23 or the inquest will take another action.
“This is the third time Dr Tom had failed to present the Health Department’s independent report as Health minister to the inquest.
“At the time of Wanzing’s death though, Jelta Wong was the minister.
“Tom had been given time to prepare himself with the report before he appears.
“He will have to come and make his position about the report known to the inquiry on Jan 23 so that we can conclude the inquest.”
Police prosecutor Sgt Felix Singo said he would file an application under section 227 (1) of the District Court Act for contempt if Tom failed to appear on the returnable date. Kilage said she was informed by former chief justice Sir Arnold Amet, who was representing the Wanzing family as a friend, that Health secretary Dr Osborne Liko had told him that Tom had been attending Parliament sittings for Budget 2023 and would ask for further adjournment. Meanwhile, the Wanzing family outside the court was concerned about the delay in Tom not presenting the independent inquiry report.
Wanzing’s mum Raela said they had been faithfully attending the inquest to seek justice for their son’s suspicious death and the people who were in authority were delaying it.
“This is the third time that the minister had failed to attend the inquiry and it is frustrating for us the family who have been attending the inquest,” she said.
She said the inquiry had started in July and relevant government agencies had been passing the buck around and failing to present the report.
“Since the health minister is the custodian of the independent report, he should appear and present the report so that the inquest can come up with its findings,” Raela said.
She further added that it was unfair that other state witnesses turned up on their given dates to testify and why not the health minister?