04/08/2026
The course of action that led to the ex*****on of the court-ordered asset seizures at Bugandi Secondary School stemmed from a long-standing commercial legal debt dispute.
The sequence typically follows these legal steps in our country.
📍The Breach or Debt Incurred: Years prior, a legal claim or contract dispute arose between the school's administration/board and an external vendor, supplier, or business contractor in Lae over unpaid goods, services, or professional fees amounting to over half a million kina (K500,000+).
📍Legal Action and Default Judgement: The aggrieved business filed a civil suit against the school management/governing council in court. Because the school either failed to defend the suit, missed court dates, or could not settle the demanded payments, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, issuing a default judgment or formal monetary order against the school.
📍Writ of Ex*****on: When the debt remained unpaid after the judgment, the creditor secured a Writ of Ex*****on through the National or District Court. This order empowers the Office of the Sheriff of Papua New Guinea to seize movable property and assets belonging to the judgment debtor to recover the owed funds.
📍Enforcement on the Ground: Armed with the writ, the Sheriff's officers and bailiffs visited the school grounds to target high-value mobile assets—such as institutional vehicles and designated staff institutional housing—while legally leaving active teaching infrastructure (like classrooms) untouched to protect students' right to education.
The Bugandi Secondary School in Lae has become the first public school to have its assets seized by the Office of the Sheriff.
Read More: https://tvwan.com.pg/news/10701
