Withdraw appeal, Tato told

 CHIEF Justice Sir Salamo Injia has ordered sidelined Eastern Highlands provincial administrator Solomon Tato to withdraw his appeal application against a National Court decision in Goroka.

On Jan 26, 2016, the National Court had restrained Tato from interfering with the functions of the Eastern Highlands provincial administration under provincial administrator Samson Kunai.

Tato filed an appeal against that decision in the Supreme Court on Jan 28.

Sir Injia, sitting as a single Supreme Court judge in Waigani, gave the order after Tato’s lawyer failed to tell the court which orders given by National Court judge Justice Hitelai Polume were interlocutory, requiring the leave of court and which orders were injunctive, which did not require the leave to appeal.

Lawyer Tony Waisi, representing Governor Julie Soso, applied for cost, which was granted.

Tato was also ordered to pay all the legal costs for the unsuccessful appeal.

Soso said outside after the court ruling that the truth had prevailed.

“I respect the court decision. The impasse can no longer continue to hold the province at ransom.

“I call on public servants to respect the court decision and work with the acting administrator for the good of the province,” Soso said.