Belbong v Clovis [2007] VUICB 1; Civil Case 09 of 2007 (20 December 2007)

IN THE MALEKULA ISLAND COURT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
HELD AT LAKATORO/ MALEKULA
(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil # 09/07

BETWEEN

HUGO BELBONG
(Complainant)

AND

MELTEMAL CLOVIS
ALBERTINE CLOVIS
MARCO CLOVIS
(Defendant)

MATTER: DISPUTE OVER CUSTOM PROPERTY COCONUT

Coram: Jastis Douglas Fatdal
Jastis Lorna Bongvivi
Jastis Evelyn Seth

Clerk: Wendy W. Raptigh

JUDGEMENT

Brief backgraon long case:

Civil case 09 of 2007 Between Hugo Belbong and Meltemal Clovis, Albertine Clovis mo Marco Clovis, Court ibin harem trial long 8^th November, 2007 hemia long Orap. Tugeta claimant iblong Vao nomo hemia long North East part blong Malekula. Long 26^th November, 2007 Court ibin go visitim disputed site ia long Vao mo givimaot oral judgment long 20^th December, 2007.

Issue:

Dispute istap bitwin olgeta parties antap ova long wan plantation blong coconas wei i stap long Honovar hemia long Vao main land. Hugo Belbong iclaim se ol coconas ia iblong hem anda long custom mo Clovis tu iclaim se ol coconas ia iblong hem anda long custom.

Court ia bae hemi traem blong finemaot se anda long custom mo law blong Republic of Vanuatu, whu ia nao igat raet ova long coconas plantation ia.

History blong case:

Case blong Complainant, Mr. Belbong Hugo

1. Samtaem long manis mai 2007 mifala ibin ko putum bak ol mak wetem olfala Leisong long wan line coconas we Jif Clovis mo family ipikimap oltaem. From olfala Leisong nao iplanem coconut mo isave wea ples coconut blong hem ifinis, emia long saed antap ino long solwota. Sam dei ipass taem mi go luk bakeken mi sek we ol mak ia oli katemaot olgeta evriwan.

2. Sem dei ia nomo mi kambak long naet mi ko luk Jif Clement mo mi sendem iko askem long Jif Clovis mo italem long Clement se ino hemia long 1^st June, 2007. Nao mi sendem bakeken blong go luk Marco taem istap ko blong luk Marco, imitim Clovis nao italem long Clovis ise bae mi ko luk Marco from mak bakeken. Semtaem Jif Clovis italem long Clement ise yuk o talem se Marco I katemaot ol mak.

3. Mi no tokbaot kraon, mi tokbaot mak blong mi nomo wetem olfala Leisong we Marco ikatemaot. Long tingting blong mi sapos Leisong bae ikatemaot mak maet istret lelebet be mo sori tumas mo sapraes long boy blong Jif Clovis we iko katemaot mak we papa blong hemi ino iven planem wan (1) single coconut nating long ples ia (Honovar) we mi stap talem.