Trial

Malibu Tu, 29, from Laiagam, Enga Province, 25-year-old Kelly Ango of Pamas Wabag, Enga Province and 23-year-old Nelson Albert of Tari, Hela Province appeared in court on Friday.

They were arrested and charged with being in possession of dangerous drugs, under Section 3(1)(d) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

They pleaded not guilty to allegations they had 13 packs of marijuana rolls on them, on Jan 1, 2017 at Henoa Drive, Five-Mile. The packs have a street value at K1 each.

Senior Magistrate Josephine Nidu issued the warrant of arrest for 26-year-old Mehdi Bohlouli and 28-year-old Mahbomb Rabbani Mohammad.

Both men were arrest on Jan 1, 2017 after they were picked up by police on New Year Eve at Salasia village near Lorengau.

They were charged with drunk and disorderly behaviour and resisting police arrest. They have been on bail of K200 each, however that bail has been forfeited.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu said he has directed his officers to execute the warrants of arrest and have them locked up.

Jeffery Pitu, Jacob Lais and Newman Upas, from Wapenamanda District, were in court on Friday where submissions were made to assist the court reach a verdict.

Their lawyer submitted that Matthew Masket died as a result of the impact of the car crash at the tunnel between Stop N Shop and the RSPCA clinic.

The lawyer said the State’s evidence against the three is circumstantial or indirect evidence, which does not show that they are responsible for Masket’s murder.

Yama is seeking contempt charges at the Waigani National Court against former Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, the returning officer involved in the Madang Open by-election recount in 2014, Simon Sinai, and their lawyer Harvey Nii.

He is seeking contempt charges against Trawen, Sinai and Nii on allegations they misled the court with wrong information when the court was dealing with an election petition filed by Yama challenging the election of current Madang Open MP Nixon Duban.

Bawa will stand trial on Feb 6, 2017 where he will answer to allegations of abusing the authority of his office.

He appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika today where the date was set.

On Oct 17, the Waigani District Court committed Bawa for trial in the National Court after sufficient evidence was found against him.

From Kandep in Enga Province, he is facing allegations of stealing and abusing the authority of his office last year while he was the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent.

The man from Enga was committed by the Waigani District Court for trial this week after enough evidence was found in court against him.

He is expected to appear at the Waigani National Court on Nov 8 for listing where a date will be set for his trial once the appropriate court documents are fixed.

The alleged incident took place on May 9 this year at the barracks where the man worked as a cook in its mess and the boy lives with his parents.

Justice Collin Makail on Thursday afternoon heard submissions from parties in the judicial review case; ITSF chairman Sam Koim who represented himself, lawyer representing Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Mal Varitimos, NEC’s lawyer Tiffany Twivey-Nonggorr and Nicholas Tame, representing the Royal PNG Constabulary.

The ITFS team was disbanded in an NEC decision in 2014, however that has been stayed by the National Court pending the outcome of this Judicial Review proceeding that has been in court for the past two years.

Thomas Warepa was committed by the Waigani District Court today by Magistrate Cosmas Bidar to answer to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Kelo Kewaki, his own uncle at Erima.

The ruling was done after he told the court that he had difficulty engaging a lawyer to defend him or write a statement in court to respond to the police investigation files.

However, the court relied on police investigation files, the complainant’s statements including photographic evidence of the injuries to make its ruling.

Parties involved in the proceeding appeared before Justice Collin Makail today for a status conference where the date was set.

The trial is expected to be done by way of affidavit on Thursday, Oct 20 at 1:30 and parties are expected to file and serve submissions by Oct 17.

A motion by the former Police Commissioner’s lawyer, Nicholas Tame that was filed on March 9 seeking to restrain Koim’s lawyer’s engagement was struck out by Justice Makail for want of prosecution.

Lucian Kaitora of Emo village, Northern Province will return to the District Court next month with his lawyer for the trial.

Senior District Court Magistrate Cosmas Bidar in deferring the trial to October said the Police Prosecution team is expected to call three witnesses for the trial.

The trial which was set for today could not proceed to a hearing as Kaitora’s lawyer was out of Port Moresby on Duty travel.

Police allege Kaitora on Sept 23 last year at the DCA compound at Kondobu sold a 40ft container to a Jacob Gubi with the intent to defraud him.