Sawong back on the bench

AFTER his re-appointment to the bench by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission on Sept 15 this year, Don Sawong took his oath of office before Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane at Government House yesterday.
Justice Sawong was appointed as a judge of the National and Supreme Court to serve for another 10 years.
This will be his second term as a judge.
He was first appointed as a National and Supreme Court judge in 1995 and although his contract was extended for another 10 years in 2005, he turned down the offer in order to seek other career paths.
At the swearing-in ceremony yesterday, were Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and other members of the bench including justices Panuel Mogish, Derek Hartshorn and Ere Kariko and Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek and immediate family members.
After signing the instruments of declaration of loyalty and declaration of office and judicial declaration, Justice Sawong took oath of loyalty to freely and willingly serve the people of the independent state of Papua New Guinea.
His appointment brings to 24 the total number of judges in the country (this includes the acting judges).