Police resume probe into LLG affairs

POLICE investigations into the affairs of the Nimamar local level government (LLG) in Lihir will resume.
This came about following last Wednesday’s Kokopo National Court’s lifting of orders sought by Nimamar LLG last Nov 3 to restrain investigations into its affairs.
The application was lodged at the Kokopo National Court with the first plaintiff being the LLG, second and third plaintiffs the LLG president Rudolp Tongop and LLG manager Lonnie Barok and four defendants including investigator in charge of the investigation Sgt Elizah Aaron, Lihir police station commander John Loxonbo, Police Commissioner Gari Baki and the the State respectively.
The investigation into the Nimamar LLG was directed last October by the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLLGA) Minister Job Pomat following complaints by landowners about not receiving royalties from the LLG.
The investigation was being conducted by the national anti-corruption alliance squad.
Justice Salatiel Lenalia, when handing down the decision, said the decision of the court last November could not stand forever as it would be an abuse of the court process.
He said the first and second defendants could not be suppressed and stopped from carrying out their mandated constitutional duties.
“The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary must be allowed to carry out criminal investigations into any allegation of misappropriation of monies or any crimes known to our law,” he said.
Justice Lenalia ordered that the ex parte orders given by the court last Nov 3 be set aside.
He also ordered the current proceedings be dismissed for being “playful and annoying” in nature and an abuse of the process of the court.
He further ordered that the first, second and third plaintiffs pay for costs of all parties in these proceedings to be taxed.