Motukea inquiry pending

THE Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sale and purchase of the Motukea Wharf in Port Moresby is still awaiting confirmation from the Government for an extension to its reporting deadline which is on Thursday (June 16).
COI chairman and commissioner Sike Julian Toulik, who presided over the COI in Port Moresby on Thursday, said he expected the extension to be granted as it was a procedural issue.
However, Toulik said this would not affect the progress of the COI.
“It also gives us time to look at these key witnesses that have been mentioned. This period is a peak period (General Election 2022) and it is clear that when someone is busy out there with his electorate or in relation to other election related matters its quite difficult for people to attend with this time,” he said.
Counsel assisting the COI Maleva Kipa told the COI on Thursday that they had managed to deliver the relevant documentation concerning the request for extension to the Government.
“We are still waiting the return for the signed instruments for us to convert into the proper gazettal notices. Once that is done it will be published in due course,” Kipa said.
Kipa asked for matters to be adjourned to this week due to the unavailability of witnesses. He said half of the witnesses were engaged with General Election 2022.
He added that service of summons to witnesses was another problem as they had to personally serve the summons to the witnesses. Toulik granted Kipa’s request for adjournment to this Thursday.
The National reported earlier that in 2019, the Marepe-led Government froze the contract with Curtain Brothers, pending a proper investigation into the sale and purchase of Motukea.
The Government also sanctioned an investigation into the purchase of the Motukea Port by the Peter O’Neill-led government.