Committal court

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar gave his ruling against Kila-Pat, the Lands Department manager of finance and budget Vavine Walo and Corporate director Simeon Andrew.

They will return to court for their next mention and give an indication of their section 96 statement or their response to the court finding sufficient evidence against them.

All three were arrested on one count of conspiracy and one count of misappropriation each.

It is alleged that the trio, on October 14 last year, conspired within the Lands Department to apply to their own use the sum of K208, 569.70.

Jude Nidung, David Travolta, Gregory Tuaki, Alwin Matiabe, Tobias Samson and, Kenneth Yangun briefly appeared before Magistrate John Kaumi today. They will be expected back in court on June 28.

Their lawyer is also expected to present submissions before the court next month in response to the completed police hand-out brief or investigation files that were served to them following their re-arrest in March.

The soldiers’ case was struck out on March 16 at the Committal Court after investigators failed to produce completed investigation files in time before the court.

Sir Bernard’s lawyer, Loani Henao filed an application in that respect which was brought to the court’s attention today when he returned for mention.

Henao said due to the position Sir Bernard holds, section 119(5) of the Criminal Code of PNG will apply as he was ‘foreshadowing’ the application they intend to move.  That application will be moved on a later date.

This follows their release from custody after bail of K5000 was granted to them by Justice Panuel Mogish of the Waigani National Court.

They were allowed bail by the court last Wednesday after their lawyer Ignatius Mambei moved the application on Tuesday.

They are expected before Magistrate John Kaumi where their lawyer Mambei will give an indication of submissions in response to the Police’s completed hand out brief.

Billy Dim, 22 of Sumae village, Daru, Western Province, will return to court on Friday (April 8) where the court will make a ruling into his case. He remains in custody at Bomana till then.

He was arrested on Nov 10 last year for allegedly causing unlawful wounding to a female IT student from the Tafe College. Dim and three other accomplices staged an armed hold up using bush knives.

Currently held at the Military Police holding cell at Murray Barracks, the six are expected back in court before Magistrate John Kaumi for mention at the Bomana Court house. 

They are Jude Nidung (24) from Finschhafen in Morobe, David Travolta (23) from Nuknuk village in Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Gregory Tuaki (28) of Dinam village, Bogia district in Madang, Alwin Matiabe (26) from Guala village, Koroba district in Hela Province, Tobias Samson (26) from Singing village, Baiyer district, Western Highlands Province and Kenneth Yangun (25) of Mendi in Southern Highlands Province.

Queensland man Ian John Proctor returned to the Committal Court today with his lawyer Ben Lomai. He first appeared in court on December 9, last year.

Police prosecution team told the court the investigating officer has completed investigations however will need more time to compile files. 

Proctor is expected back in court on March 15. His bail of K4,000 is extended until then.

It is anticipated his files will be served to him by the time he returns to court next month.

James Zhou Qianbin appeared at the Waigani Committal Court this morning before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar where the charge against him was read in court.

The man from mainland China was arrested by NCD Fraud investigators on January 18, however he failed to appear in court.

This resulted in police issuing a notice for his apprehension.

It is alleged that between September 27 and December 24,  last year, at the Green International Ltd office at Waigani, he was alleged to have dishonestly applied to his own use monies belonging to the company.

The victims involved are from Lealea village in the Central Province.

Willie Gare was charged for one count of unlawfully confining eight females and a male, one count of exploitation and one count of sexually penetrating one of the victims at Kundiawa town.

He was arrested and charged on Nov 9 last year at Kundiawa and had his case transferred to Port Moresby.

Police prosecution informed the court that police completed investigation against Gare with the files served on him.

The female constable made her first appearance at the Waigani Committal Court this morning (Jan 12) since she was arrested by police.

She has since filed a bail application which will be heard by the District Court tomorrow.

Her appearance tomorrow will also see her charge amended after NCD police laid another four charges against her.

She was initially charged with deprivation of liberty and abuse of office after she was identified by the victim as the woman who allegedly filmed the video that went viral on the social media.