Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Hon. Wesley Raminai is considering suspending Secretary for Department of Higher Education Fr Jan Czuba due to a pending criminal case against him. Czuba is facing a total of eight criminal charges against him in the District Court, relating to abuse of office and alleged misuse of public funds within the Department. Attempts by his lawyers to dismiss the charges, on the claim Czuba was entitled to diplomatic immunity, were rejected by the court in December last year. Last week, Police prosecutors applied to court to have Czuba’s bail revoked so he can be remanded in custody because police believed he was interfering with prosecution witnesses. But the court refused to revoke bail because police did not provide sufficient evidence to court on witness interference. Minister Raminai said Fr Czuba, like any citizen or resident of this country, was entitled to his constitutional right of being innocent until proven guilty. But he was concerned that the case was a huge distraction for Czuba himself, and those within the Department who are trying to remain focused on their jobs. “The distraction by the pending criminal case is unfair on Czuba himself, the staff of the department, all our stakeholders, and the tertiary institutions we are supposed to serve. “This is so vital, especially when the nation is dealing with a deadly pandemic, and all our efforts and focus should be on ensuring the learning institutions are run with less disruption, in compliance with national pandemic protocols. “Already this year, academic programs in our universities have been disrupted. Some very experienced and highly qualified academic lecturers have succumbed to the disease, and there appears to be an absence of leadership provided to these institutions by the department. “I would be failing the most important stakeholders in the Ministry’s purview, the students, if I did not take the necessary steps to reset our focus, and restore confidence in the department. “That is why I will seek Cabinet approval to ask Fr Czuba to step aside temporarily to deal with the criminal case that is currently before the District Court,” Minister Raminai said.