PNG Cyber Monitor

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Flashback image BSP drops ‘Super Tax’ challenge in Supreme Court PORT MORESBY:  After all the hoo-haa over the “Super Tax” imposition by the Government, Bank South Pacific Financial Group Ltd (BSP) has withdrawn its application filed in the Supreme Court seeking to declare the additional company tax of K190 million unconstitutional. Representing BSP, Lubia Evore appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi in Waigani on Thursday (Aug 25, 2022) and sought leave to withdraw the application due to a recent unrelated Suipreme Court proceeding that dismissed an application filed by Justice Foundation for Porgera Ltd because it did not meet the signing for a company making a Constitution Section 18 application to the Supreme Court. The National reported the court proceedings:   BSP drops ‘super tax’ challenge August 29, 2022 The National National BANK South Pacific Fi

News that matter in Papua New Guinea William Powi again is governor under ‘special circumstances’ PORT MORESBY:  William Powi has again been declared Southern Highlands governor under “special circumstances” by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Electoral Commission (EC). In the last General Election 2017 (GE17), he was also controversially declared the winner under “special circumstances”. PNG Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai on Thursday declared Poiwi as the winner in the presence of Southern Highlands Election Manager Alywin Jimmy at about 6.30pm on the eve of National Repentance Day in the EC’s office. Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill expressed disbelief and disappointment on the declaration of Powi as governor. “Our people nationwide has been denied their right under Section 50 of our Constitution to free and fair elections, culminating in this travesty against democracy in my home province,” he said. The news break was reported by The National :

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Image for illustration only. For image info, go to https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=smuggling Cops nabbed for marijuana and firearms smuggling PORT MORESBY:  Three policemen were arrested for trying to smuggle 450kg of marijuana and two unregistered firearms in the National Capital District last week. Gulf commander Jeffrey Lemb said the trio were arrested at a roadblock set up near the Apanaipi Bridge on the Hiritano Highway following a tip-off. The news break was reported by The National : Cops held over drug smuggling August 29, 2022 The National Main Stories THREE policemen were arrested for trying to smuggle 450kg of marijuana and two unregistered firearms in the National Capital District last week. Gulf commander Jeffrey Lemb said the trio were arrested at a roadblock set up near the Apanaipi Bridge on the Hiritano Highway following a tip-off. “They were

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Four-day gunfight in Mendi PORT MORESBY:  More than 200 soldiers have moved into Southern Highlands’ Mendi where supporters of General Election 2022 candidates in the provincial seat were locked in a four-day gunfight. Millions od Kina worth of properties were destroyed last week. Major Joshua Dorpar told The National that the soldiers were deployed to help restore peace and normalcy. The news break was reported by The National : Soldiers in SHP to restore peace August 25, 2022 The National Main Stories By REBECCA KUKU MORE than 200 soldiers have moved into Southern Highlands’ Mendi where supporters of candidates in the provincial seat were locked in a four-day gunfight. Millions of Kina worth of properties were destroyed last week. Major Joshua Dorpar told  The National  that the soldiers were deployed to help restore peace and normalcy. “Both sides have ceased

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Image for illustration only. For image info, go to https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/lawrence-texas-homosexual-conduct-statute/ Court extends remand on man charged with sodomising nine-year-old boy PORT MORESBY:  A committal court in Lae has ordered a 32-year-old man, charged with sodomising a nine-year-old boy, to remain in custody until the evidence is rteady for the next hearing. Magistrate Lorna Sani ordered Tom Kage, from Kerema’s Opao village in Gulf, to be remanded in Buimo Prison. Sani told Kage that he had committed a serious crime, and thus the need to extend the remand. The news break was reported by The National :   Accused of sodomising 9-year-old August 25, 2022 The National Main Stories A COMMITTAL court in Lae, Morobe, has ordered a 32-year-old man, charged with sodomising a nine-year-old boy, to remain in custody until the evidence is r

News that matter in Papua New Guinea 8 killed, schoolgirls raped in Rai Coast PORT MORESBY:  Eight people were killed and about 10 Bambu Primary School girls were raped when the Hetwara Gang attacked nine villages in Rai Coast’s Nankina valley last week. They also burnt down houses, community leader Kevin Sandip said. “The gang has since grown in numbers, recruiting more young men. Last week Wednesday and Thursday (Aug 17 and 18, 2022), they attacked Gwarawon which is a village surrounding the Nankina airstrip and where SIL missionaries work and has a population of about 1,200,” he added. The news break was reported by The National : 8 killed, schoolgirls raped August 25, 2022 The National Main Stories By REBECCA KUKU EIGHT people were killed and about 10 Bambu Primary School girls were raped when the Hetwara Gang attacked nine villages in Rai Coast’s Nankina valley last week. They also burnt d

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Supreme Court sets aside stay order on Kombuk’s suspension PORT MORESBY:  The Supreme Court says the National Executive Council (NEC) has separate powers and it cannot interfere with those powers. Justice George Manuhu made the remarks in Waigaini yesterday (Aug 23, 2022) on behalf of a three- Man bench when setting aside a National Court order which stopped a NEC decision suspending Daniel Kombuk as Agriculture and Livestock Department secretary. The National reported the court proceedings: Court sets aside stay order on Kombuk’s suspension August 24, 2022 The National National THE Supreme Court says that the National Executive Council (NEC) has separate powers and it cannot interfere with those powers. Justice George Manuhu made the remarks at Waigani yesterday on behalf of a three-man bench when setting aside a National Court order which stopped an NEC decision suspending Dan

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Man to stand trial for fondling 12-year-old girl’s breasts PORT MORESBY:  A 47-year-old man was committed to stand trial in the National Court for molesting a 12-year-old girl in the National Capital District on Oct 2, 2021. John Mark, from Sohe’s Agunabu village in Northern, is charged with fondling the girl’s breasts. The National reported the court proceedings: Accused molester to stand trial August 24, 2022 The National Main Stories By VANESSA NIKEN A MAN, 47, has been committed to a trial in the National Court for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl. Magistrate Paul Puri Nii made the ruling in the Waigani committal court yesterday after the defendant denied the allegation when given an opportunity to say something in the Section 96 statement. He said John Mark, from Agunambu village in Sohe, Northern, was charged with sexual touching under Section 229B (a) of the Criminal Code Act. “Sub-section A, a person, for sexual

News that matter in Papua New Guinea PM Marape retains 33-member cabinet PORT MORESBY:  Prime Minister James Marapae has maintained his 33-member cabinet but made changes and created new portfolios aimed at ensuring that his vision for Papua New Guinea (PNG) socio-economic growth is realised. The new portfolios are Oil Palm, Coffee and International Trade and Investment, while Petroleum and Energy have been merged as one – Petroleum and Energy, Police and Correctional Services are now under Internal Security. Marape has also retained 23 incumbent ministers and appointed nine new ones. PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and other InfoGraphics published by The National : PM names 33-member cabinet August 24, 2022 The National Main Stories By GYNNIE KERO and REBECCA KUKU PRIME Minister James Marape has maintained his 33-member cabinet but made changes and created new portfolios aimed at ensuring that his vision for Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s socio-economic growth