Judge finds Czuba’s case ‘bizarre’, to deliver judgment next week
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Judge finds Czuba’s case ‘bizarre’, to deliver judgment next week
PORT MORESBY: Suspended Higher Education secretary Fr Jan Czuba
will know his fate next week when the National Court in Waigani delivers its
judgment on charges of abuse of office and corruption against him.
Justice Laura Kuvi, during the submission hearing, yesterday
said the case was “bizarre” in that the state’s evidence was presented by the
defence in their submission.
Details of the court proceedings were published by The National:
Czuba to know
fate next week
December 16, 2021The NationalNational
SUSPENDED Higher Education secretary
Fr Jan Czuba will know his fate next week when the Waigani National Court hands
down a decision on charges of abuse of office and official corruption against
him.
Justice Laura Kuvi, during the submissions hearing yesterday, said the case was
“bizarre” in that the state’s evidence was presented by the defence in their
submission.
She said statements by the state’s witness were inconsistent with the charges
and facts presented. Defence lawyer Edward Sasingian filed a no-case
application, asking the court to drop the charges against Czuba on the grounds
that the state’s evidence was insufficient and irrelevant.
He submitted that the state had failed to provide the evidence of the agreement
Czuba was alleged to have entered into with the company PCG Academia.
Sasingian also referred to state witness, DHERST deputy secretary for finance
Ruth Philip’s statement, that there were 11 different agreements set in making
a payment of K1.3 million to PCG and Alpha Net Solutions in 2018.
Payment was for licensing and software maintenance for the online selection
system which the prosecution had presented as one agreement.
He further submitted that state had not provided evidence of meeting minutes
and documents to support other allegations that Czuba had directed a payment of
K109,791.40 to the Global Travel Centre to facilitate student travel in 2018.
He said the state’s allegations against Czuba of facilitating the payments to
PCS Academia and Global Travel agency were prejudicial to the state.
He said the court had given opportunity to the state witness to explain what
happened, but the prosecution had limited their questions.
“Due to this, the trial has not assisted the court as it should under the
professional conduct rule,” Sasingian said.
Samantha Mosoro, from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, said they only relied on
the brief provided by the investigation team.
Mosoro apologised to the court for lumping payments made on different
agreements together and misleading the court.
Sasingain filed an application to refer Public Prosecutor Trish Aihi and Mosoro
to the Lawyers’ Statutory Committee for breaching the lawyers’ professional
code of conduct in misleading the court.
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