Kokopo National Court presiding Judge, Terence Higgins, this afternoon ordered that the Finance Secretary Dr. Ken Rangan, Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele, Justice Secretary Dr. Lawrence Kalinoe and Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari, to appear in court.
Justice Higgins ordered the four men to appear at the Kokopo National court on the 30 November, to explain why the Rabaul Queen trial was not adequately funded as directed by the justice Minister, Ano Palo, in June.
Rabaul MP, Dr. Allan Marat, raised the questions on the floor of parliament in June this year asking for funding support for state witnesses.
Attorney General, Ano Palo, has made assurance stating that the funding will be allocated to continue the trial.
State prosecutors say there are more witnesses yet to testify in court but were put on hold due to lack of funding and have so far spurred numerous court adjournments.
The Rabaul Queen trial has dragged on for 4-years, making it one of the longest, yet expensive trials in Papua New Guinea.
