Otto Wangillen

Court quashes Wangillen’s conviction

The high court’s decision came as a huge relief to Wangillen, who spent one-year-six-months of his five-year sentence at Bomana.

Justices Nicholas Kirriwom, Terrence Higgins and Collin Makail today set aside Wangillen’s conviction and sentence, thus acquitting him of the charges of conspiracy and misappropriation of K400,000.

The court found that there was lacking evidence that he knew his co-accused in the small provincial town of Popondetta, and conspired with him to misappropriate K400,000.

Wangillen asks court to quash conviction

His lawyer made submissions in court this afternoon on an appeal he filed against the decision of the Waigani National Court.

Wangillen was found guilty on Feb 19, 2015, by the National Court for conspiring with another person and misappropriating K400,000, monies belonging to the Ijivitari District.

He was sentenced on June 11, 2015, to five years in jail.

The appeal against conviction was on three main grounds. A three-man Supreme Court heard submissions today and reserved its ruling to this Friday.

Ijivitari’s former district Treasurer appeals sentence

Wangillen was found guilty on Feb 19, 2015 by the National Court for conspiring with another person and misappropriating K400,000, monies belonging to the Ijivitari District.

He was sentenced on June 11, 2015 to five years in prison.

The appeal against his conviction and sentencing will be heard on Oct 25. The date for the hearing was set yesterday after the case came for directions hearing.