May 26, 2021 BY JEFFREY ELAPA
MINISTER for Works and Implementation Michael Nali has commended the legal team from the Department of Works that saved the state K486 million from unsubstantiated and unscrupulous claims.
He said the legal team from the department and Guardian Legal Service did justice to taxpayers when defending all the cases and stopped what would have been unjustified claims totalling almost half a billion kina (K486 million).
He also thanked the National Court for upholding the rule of law at all times. “No useful purposes should be served if the courts allow the claims to be tried,” he said.
Mr Nali said the 19 claims went to the courts and was defended successfully totalling K486 million includes the K9 million claims for breach of contract from former secretary Joel Luma, K15 million from Wera Mori for damages for malicious prosecution and defamation of character against the police and the state relating to contract awarded to Wera Mori and his company by the Department of Works relating to the Highlands Highway rehabilitation program, K50 million from Mendikwae Ltd for damages for breach of contract arising from alleged demolition of structural and planted improvements along Chimbu section of the Highlands Highway near Kundiawa town and for loss of business.
He said the other claims include a K150.5 million claim from Thomas Berry and 3227 others, who are landowners of the Chimbu section of the Highlands Highway corridor for recovery of outstanding payment of K68.7 million plus all damages relating to the Highlands Highway rehabilitation program, K5 million from Landmark Valuers and Menevi Gene for breach of 11 proforma contracts, K7 million claims from Nicky Kintapson, a claim by a property owners along the Lae-Nadzab road for damages for alleged demolition of his property as a result of the four lane road.
Also defended was a K10 million from David Yaka and six others for breach of constitutional rights relating to the construction of the Mt Hagen four-lane road, K20 million from David Paraka Kunduane and 1000 others for damages for loss of properties and destruction caused to environment as a result of landslip at the Ouna in Chimbu, K5 million from David Yak and 7 others for appeal against the National Court Decision at Mt Hagen to discharge interim orders restraining the Department of Works and contractor on the four lane road in Hagen.
Another massive claim stopped is a K50 million claim from John Kama and 51 others for properties affected by the four lane road in Mt Hagen from Kawei market to Ketiga junction, K17,5 million from Homeland Joint Venture and Peter Kama for a case against David Wereh and others and the State, K35 million from Unage Sine and 2456 others, K70 million from Thomas Berry and others and Lorma’s K42 million claim for breach of contract.
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