Unesco head gets court to stop probe

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday July 10th, 2013

 UNITED Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation secretary-general Yori Yei has obtained a court order reinstating a Jan 6 permanent restraining order against investigations into a host of fraud and misappropriation charges against him.

Court documents made available to The National showed that last Friday’s order would effectively allow for two pending court cases, relating to Unesco administrative matters, to be heard in the National Court.

When contacted yesterday, Yei said last Friday’s reinstatement of the Jan 6 restraining order would allow due processes to be followed in dealing with the substantive matters.

“The manner in which I was arrested and charged borders on serious abuse of court procedures and processes,” he said.

“The National Court matters are related to a former employee of the PNG National Commission for Unesco, Kenneth Thomson, who was accused of misappropriating Unesco funds.

“Thomson was committed by public prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to stand trial in the National Court,” Yei said. “I am the State witness in these matters.”

He said while this was pending, Thomson came up with his allegations and got the Task Force Sweep Team to arrest him (Yei) on Jan 3 – when the Waigani Committal Court was closed for the festive season.

“Last Friday’s District Court orders clearly mean that Thomson’s criminal proceedings must be dealt with first before the allegations against me can be looked at,” Yei said.