By JACINTA DOKTA
THE Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (YSDDA) will be the first in the country to have a National Court House with a Resident Judge to be based in the district headquarters in Yangoru.
This will come into place, following a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the YSDDA and the National Judicial Staff Services on Friday 4th April 2025.
Yangoru-Saussia MP and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru said after 50 years, the Judiciary has decided for a first National Court House to be built in his district.
Maru said Yangoru-Saussia has a district court service within the district and is now planning to take this service to a next level by building a district court house that will also have a National Court House in the same building and a National Court precinct.
He said the new court house will not only serve the people Yangoru-Saussia but five other districts in the Sepik region as it is located in the greater Sepik Region.
“When you drive past the district, you go to Maprik, Wosera-Gawi, Angoram, Ambunti-Drekikir, Lumi and Nuku in Sandaun Province,” said Maru.
“Our people do not have to go to Wewak, as it is far for most of them to reach just to attend or be witnesses in court cases.”
Minister Maru said his district is committed to partner the service; the National Court and the District Court, to make sure that these services are delivered at the doorsteps of his people.
Maru stressed that the National Court House will complement the new mobile barracks as many criminals will be apprehended by the mobile squad to be based in Yangoru.
“It will be easier for them to bring to Yangoru cell and to be prosecuted through the District Court and the National Court.
“So, it will really complement our efforts to finally bring to justice many criminals who are still on the run and have not been prosecuted.”
Minister Maru further highlighted that one of the biggest issues in the country is no respect for the rule of law, stating that people are getting away with petty and serious crimes including murder and rape.
He said his administration had invested substantial funds to curb law and order in his district, but despite all his efforts and so many attempts, he has not seen anyone been convicted by the National Court.
“We have wasted so much on law and order just to apprehend criminals who are getting away with serious crimes,” he said.
“People have no respect for the rule of law; when you murder someone, you think that you are not going to jail which is definitely not a culture that we want to accept anymore. Criminals must be prosecuted and justice must be seen to be done.
“We must disperse justice in this country by having National Court judges, resident in multiple districts to serve.”