Non-compliance irks Ganaii

By BOURA GORUKILA
NON-COMPLIANCE of court directions by investigators does not help progress cases, a prominent magistrate says.
“Investigators not complying with simple directions, where they are directed to file affidavits on the status of investigations and how much time they need, and then nothing comes through and they seek adjournments from the bar table. This is like making fun of court directions,” an annoyed Tracy Ganaii said in the Waigani Committal Court on Friday.
Prosecutor Snr Const Peter Samghy told the court that he had received verbal instructions from an investigator that a police file in the case against former acting chief migration officer Robert Kennedy was pending an audit report and that an affidavit should be filed today.
Magistrate Ganaii had issued directions on March 23 that there should be something in writing from the arresting officer on investigations, the status of it and how much time would be needed.
She allowed a short adjournment to today for the investigator to file affidavit.
She also disqualified herself from the case and transferred it to another magistrate because she dealt with Kennedy in a previous matter and struck out his case for insufficient evidence.
Kennedy, of Lupamanda village in Wabag, Enga, was alleged to have, between Jan 1 and Dec 22 last year, at the migration headquarters, corruptly obtained services by hiring several motor vehicles for his benefit in the discharge of the duties of his office.
It was alleged that he hired vehicles from Copress Ltd, Jubilee Rent A Car, Minrok Hire Cars, Ricks Hire Car, Kaiyum Hire Car Services and Lakakit and Associates Lawyers – totalling K145,772.50.
All the hired vehicles were paid for using the Kundu Pei system through direct transfers of public funds and there were no FF4 and FF3 raised for any of the payments as all payments were transferred electronically straight into the accounts of the hire car companies.
The Kundu Pei system raised suspicions as it is for payment of wages for casual staff and allowances for use of external officers.
All payments for service providers should be done using the Government’s newly-approved integrated financial management systems.
Kennedy was arrested on an arrest warrant and escorted to the Gordon Police Station and charged.
His K3,000 bail was extended.