Eremas Wartoto v The State (2015) SC1411

• Jurisdiction: Papua New Guinea
• Judge: Injia CJ; Sakora, Kirriwom, Kandakasi, Davani, JJ.
• Judgment Date: 27 January 2015
• Citation: (2015) SC1411
• Docket Number: SCM 20 of 2013
• Court: Supreme Court
• Year: 2015
• Judgement Number: SC1411

Full Title: SCM 20 of 2013; Eremas Wartoto v The State (2015) SC1411

Supreme Court: Injia CJ; Sakora, Kirriwom, Kandakasi, Davani, JJ.

Judgment Delivered: 27 January 2015

SC1411

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

[IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE]

SCA 124 OF 2013

EREMAS WARTOTO

Appellant

AND:

THE STATE

Respondent

Waigani: Injia CJ; Sakora, Kirriwom, Kandakasi, Davani, JJ.

2014: 28th August

2015: 27th January

PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – Appeal against decision refusing to grant permanent stay of criminal proceeding – Utilization of civil proceeding to stay criminal proceedings – Appropriateness of – No specific legislative foundation for – Specific provisions made in criminal proceedings not utilized - Invoking s.155 (4) of Constitution –Appropriateness of –– Against good order and due administration of justice for civil courts to intervene in criminal cases – In the public interest to allow the due process and procedure in criminal proceedings to take their normal course.

Cases Cited:

Papua New Guinea Cases

Pato v Manjin [19] PNGLR 6

Pius Nui v Tanda (2004) N2765,

Royale Thompson v Kalaut (2011) N4265

Tasman Airlines of PNG v Ogil (2004) N2711

Ketan v Lawyers Statutory Committee (2001) N2290

Gene v Thompson (2007) N3254,

Toll v Kara (No. 2) (1990) PNGLR 201

Patterson v Lawyers Statutory Committee (2005) SC822

POSF v Paraka (2204) N2791

Somare v Manek (2011) SC1118

Somare v Geno (2008) N3406

Diro v Ombudsman Commission (1991) N1385

Nilkare v Ombudsman Commission [1996] PNGLR 553

Chan v Ombudsman Commission (1998) SC557

Balakau v Ombudsman Commission [1990] PNGLR 346

Ombudsman Commission v Donohoe [1985] PNGLR 348

Ombudsman Commission v Ellis [1992] PNGLR 437

Pruaitch v Manek (2010) SC1052

Yama v Ombudsman Commission (2004) SC 747

Zeming v Hinchliffe (2005) SC791

Hitolo v Leadership Tribunal (2004) N2745

Hitolo v Geno (2004) N2700

Application of Dusava (1998) SC581

Peipul v Sheehan (2002) SC706

Bonga v Sheehan [1997] PNGLR 452

Pora v Sakora [1997] PNGLR 1

Re Application of Kunangel [1991] PNGLR 1

Kamit v Cooke QC & ors (2003) N2369

Gelu v Somare (2008) N3526, Gelu v Sheehan (2013) N5498

Maladina v Poloh (2004) N2568

Kasieng v Baigry (2004) N2562

Thachenko v Magaru (2000) N1956

Golu v Marum (2013) N5104

Yali v The State (2005) N2999

Tohian v Geita (No.2) [1990] PNGL 479

Tohian v Mugagia [1982] PNGLR 353

State v Rush, Ex parte Rush [1984] PNGLR 124

Nagia v Bessaparis [1986] PNGLR 199

Burege v The State [1992] PNGLR 481

Kasieng v Baigry (2004) N2562

State v Toroken (1981) N2561

Application of Herman Leahy (2006) SC855.

Joseph Leahy v Pondros Kaluwin and the State (2014) N4813

Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare v. Chronox Manek (2011) SC1118.

Rimbink Pato v. Anthony Manjin [1999] PNGLR 6.

Simon Ketan v. Lawyers Statutory Committee & Anor (2001) N2290.

Pius Nui v. Tanda (2004) N2765.

Bank of Papua New Guinea and Wilson Kamit v. Marshall Cooke QC & Ors (2003) N2369.

Bernard Hagoria v. Ombudsman Commission (2003) N2400.

Dan Kakaraya v. Ombudsman Commission (2003) N2478.

Tasman Australia Airlines Pty Ltd v. Andrew Ogil, Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Papua New Guinea (2004) N2711.

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare v. Ila Geno (2008) N3406.

Zachary Gelu v. Sir Michael Somare MP (2008) N3526.

Tkatchenko v. Dessy Magaru (2000) N1956.

Jimmy Mostata Maladina v. Posain Poloh (2004) N2568.

Sakawar Kasieng v. Andrew Baigry (2004) N2562.

The State v. Tanedo [1975] PNGLR 395.

Diro v. Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea (1991) N1385.

Royale Thompson v Sylvester Kalaut (14/4/2011) N4265.

Frabelle (PNG) Ltd v. PANGTEL (2010) N4566.

Wilson Kamit v. Aus-PNG Research & Resources Impex Ltd (2007) N3112.

Mark Opur v. Darbar Enterprises Ltd (2004) N2528.

The State v. Esorom Burege (No 1) [1992] PNGLR 481.

Gregory Kasen v. The State (2001) N2133.

Andrew Nagari v. Rural Development Bank; Rural Development Bank v. Andrew Nagari (2007) N3295.

Anderson Agiru v. Electoral Commission and The State (2002) SC687.

Masolyau Piakali v. The State (2004) SC771.

The State v. Murray William & 2 Ors. (No 1) (2004) N2556.

The State v. Moki Lepi (2002) N2264.

The State v. Roger Kivini (2004) N2576.

Paru Aihi v. Peter Isoaimo (2013) SC1276.

Andrew Kwimberi v. The State (1998) SC545.PNG Power Ltd v. Ian Augerea (2013) SC1245

Nakun Pipoi v.Viviso Seravo & Ors (2008) SC909.

The State v. Philip Kapal [1987] PNGLR 417

Kekedo v. Burns Philp (PNG) Ltd & Ors [1988-89] PNGLR 122

Ereman Ragi & Ors vs. Joseph Maingu (1994) SC459.

Helifix Group of Companies Ltd v. PNG Land Board &Ors (2012) SC1150.

SCR 8 of 2003; Application by Anderson Agiru (2003) SC704.

Avia Aihi v The State (No 2) [1982] PNGLR 44.

William Powi (Acting Administrator for Southern Highlands Province) v Southern Highlands Provincial Government (2006) SC844.

John Kasaipwalova v. The State [1977] PNGLR 257.

Brian Kindi Lawi v. The State [1987] PNGLR 183.

Joseph Rokpa v. The State [1994] PNGLR 535.

Joshua Yaip Avini and Plaridel Nony Acosta v. The State (1997) SC523.

James Singo v The State (2002) SC700.

Tom Amaiu v. The State [1979] PNGLR 576.

Brian Kindi v The State [1987] PNGLR

Thompson v Kalaut (2011) N4265

Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare v. Chronox Manek (2011) SC1118.

Anderson Agiru v Electoral Commission v The State (2002) SC687

The Attorney General and Luke Lucas v Public Employees Association of PNG [1993] PNGLR 268

Sir Salamo Injia v Thomas Eluh & 2 Ors [2012] N4617

Herman Leahy v Pondros Kaluwin [2014] N5813

Royale Thompson v. Sylvester Kalaut (2011) N4265

State v. Wyborn [2004] PGNC 3 N2847

Overseas Cases Cited:

Roger v The Queen (1994) C.L.R 251

Jago v District Court of New South Wales (1989) 168 C.L.R 23

Williams & ors v Spautz (1992) 174 C.L.R 509

Walton v Gardiner (1992-1993) 177 C.L.R. 378

Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners [1948-1949] C.L.R.

Cox v Journoeaux (No. 2) (1935) 52 CLR 713

General Steel Industries Ltd v Commissioner for Railways & ors (1964) 112 CLR

Metropolitan Bank Ltd v Pooley [1881-85] All ER 954

Connelly v Director of Public Prosecutions [1964] 2 All ER

Director of Public Prosecutions v Humphrys [1976] All ER 497

Ex parte Cousens; Re Blacket and Anor (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 145.

Cox v Coleridge (1882) 1 B & C 37.

Moran v. Lloyds (1981) 1 Lloyds Reports 423.

Director of Public Prosecutors v Humphreys (1976) 2 All ER 497 at 528

Metropolitan Bank Ltd v Pooley [1881-85] All ER Rep at 954; 10 App Case at 220;

Connelly v Director of Public Prosecutions [1964] 2 All ER 401 at 409;

Rogers v The Queen [1994] 181 CLR 251 at 255;

NSW Food Authority v Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd (2008) 74 NSWLR 148 at 158;

Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 at 410-411

Regina v. Osborne Ontario Court of Appeal C.J.O

Metropolitan Bank Limited and Arthur Cooper the Liquidator v. Alexander Gopsell Pooley (1885) 10 App Cas 210

Jago v. District Court of New South Wales & Ors [1989] 168 CLR 23

Counsel:

L. Juarth & M. Mel, for the Appellant

P Banister & J Apo, for the Respondent

27th January, 2015

1. INJIA CJ: I have read the draft judgment of Kandakasi J which he kindly agreed to prepare for consideration by the rest of us. I agree with the orders proposed by his Honour to dispose of the appeal for reasons of my own.

2. The case before us arose from a “civil action” brought by the appellant in the National Court seeking a permanent stay of “criminal proceedings” brought against him by the State that was pending before the same Court. The pertinent facts in brief are these. Following the completion of police investigations over alleged misuse of public funds made against the appellant, police laid an information in the District Court. The Court concluded its committal proceedings on the matter and committed the appellant to stand trial in the National Court on two counts of misappropriation pursuant to s 383A (1)(a) of the Criminal Code (Ch 262).

3. The criminal matter came before the National Court sitting in its “Criminal Jurisdiction” before Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, for mention and for directions to prepare the case for trial. In the course of those directional hearings, the Public Prosecutor furnished to the appellant a copy of the draft indictment. The appellant commenced a separate civil action, in the National Court, for a permanent stay of the criminal proceedings. The appellant contended that the facts derived from the material contained in the committal court depositions did not support a case of misappropriation under s 383A (1) (a) of the Criminal Code (Ch 262), because the State had paid the funds to a private company for the provision of services and that the State no longer had an interest in those funds. The civil action also came before the Deputy Chief Justice who heard the application and dismissed it. The learned Deputy Chief Justice reasoned that the proceedings were an abuse of...