Another Supreme Court bail application has been refused to lawyer, reserve policeman and businessman Felix Kange who is currently incarcerated at Bomana.
Kange’s lawyers went before a three-judge Supreme Court bench last Wednesday, Oct 26 and asked the court for bail after the same court had refused a previous application in Sept.
The National Court has also refused two of his bail applications. He asked the court last week to release him on bail pleading he is at risk of being attacked by other prisoners after open threats were made to him.
He also stated in his affidavit that the threats started while he was kept at the Waigani Police station holding cell.
Three Correction Service officers wrote supporting affidavits to court stating they overheard threats issued by other prisoners but could not identify them in their statements.
Bomana Jail Commander Haraha Keko filed an affidavit supporting the State who opposed bail saying the threats issued have come under review and are still being investigated by the Correctional Service.
The Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon refused the bail application because it was in their view that all administrative means were not exhausted by Kange before he went to court with another bail application.
Justice Ambeng Kandakasi in reading the court’s decision yesterday afternoon said to grant bail would mean that justice is only for those with social status and would also diminish the role of the Correctional Service.
He made reference to the case of former politician, Paul Tiensten who was also refused bail by the Supreme Court after threats were made against him in the prison’s general compound.
He said Kange’s safety might be in prison and not outside when refusing bail, adding he failed to establish a credible case to his life being in danger by identifying those he contributed to incarcerate while a reserve policeman and lawyer.
Kange has been in custody since May 30 when he surrendered to Police.
He was arrested on June 2 and charged over the alleged murder of his wife, the late Regina Morove, at his family home at Garden Hills on the night of May 14.
It is alleged he shot the victim through the mouth with a pistol that night.
His case at the Committal Court is still ongoing and a ruling on the sufficiency of evidence in the District Court is expected soon.