Marape to attend inquiry into Motukea wharf deal

By AILEEN KWARAGU
PRIME Minister James Marape is expected to attend the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sale and purchase of the Motukea Wharf in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
Lawyer representing Marape from Jema Lawyers, Sedrick Ju said he could not attend the COI yesterday due to the parliament sitting and business schedules.
COI chairman and commissioner Sike Julian Toulik accepted the reasons and gave directions for the adjournment to tuesday for mention.
Senior counsel assisting the inquiry, Gibson Geroro, apart from mentioning Marape’s summon, told the COI that they had no objections to three leave applications filed by persons of interest to participate in the inquiry.
“We do not object to the applications to the extent that leave oath be granted for those three applicants to appear before the inquiry,” he said,
“This was because their applications related to Marape’s approval of the terms of reference to deal with the history of the land dealings.”
Three representatives from Tatana village — Nenehi Laurina, Inehi Incorporated Group and the Araira Laurabada Community — made appearances before the inquiry yesterday and were formally granted the leave applications by Toulik.
Geroro added that through directions from Taulik based on the materials presented by the land groups, it was evident they were granted leave to be part of the enquiry.
“In the interest of time and as counsels assisting the inquiry, we submit that the inquiry issues a direction that they could appear with any legal representatives,” he said.
The applications were directed by Toulik and would appear before the inquiry through a legal representative on Tuesday.