A senior police officer was arraigned at the Boroko District Court this morning after he was arrested and charged on allegations he had in his possession a pistol and ammunition without a license.
This same pistol was allegedly used in the K1.2 million robbery at the Tropic Air Terminal on Nov 3, 2016.
The 44-year-old Steven Numbos of Kragur village, Wewak, East Sepik Province appeared before Magistrate Alex Kalandi with his lawyer on Wednesday where his two charges were read and explained to him in court.
Arrested on Dec 30, 2016, he was charged with being in possession of ammunition without license and being in possession of a pistol without license under the Firearms Act.
A trial will be conducted on February 8 after he pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him.
His lawyer told the court they rely on the defense that he was not served the order which the offense arises out of.
In Oct 2015, the defendant in court (Numbos) allegedly arrested a Philip Marshall and had him charged with seven charges under the Firearms Act. The matter went before the Boroko District Court and was dismissed on Nov 26, 2015.
According to the summary of facts before the court, an order dated the same day was issued to the defendant, who was the informant at the time to return all the exhibits (gun and ammunition) to the clerk of court for the court to administer its return to the owner.
However, police alleged the defendant defied that order and gave that exhibit pistol to a police reservist, Teteme Jonah who later gave the pistol to an Alphonse (Ali) of Tokarara on Nov 2, 2016. This same pistol was allegedly used in the K1.2 million robbery at the Tropic Air Terminal on Nov 3, 2016.
Investigations led to the apprehension of the police reservist (Jonah) which then allegedly led the investigation team to the defendant’s house.
Jonah has been arrested and charged with one count of Armed Robbery under the Criminal Code Act.
Numbos is also facing willful murder charges under the Criminal Code Act at the Committal Court. He remains in custody.