Lawyer Felix Kange, who was charged for the murder of his wife, the late Regina Morove in May, is still detained at the Waigani police station holding cell.
Following his arraignment or his charges being read at the District Court on July 7, he was supposed to be taken to Bomana, however, that has not taken place.
Bomana Correctional Institute Commanding Officer, Haraha Keko, confirmed with Loop PNG today that Kange has not been taken to Bomana to be remanded.
Kange’s lawyers said he applied for a warrant to be remanded at the Waigani police station holding cell, which was granted on medical grounds.
Kange was also allowed to be remanded at Waigani awaiting a bail application. His lawyers are still working on getting bail in the higher court.
From Maia village, Pangia, Southern Highlands Province, the 39-year-old had the allegations against him read in court, on July 7, a month after his arrest. He was arrested on June 2.
Kange was arrested and charged for murder over the shooting of the late Morove on the night of May 14 at the family home at Garden Hills. He was charged under section 300 of the criminal code act.
Whilst in custody at the Police holding cell, he allegedly escaped and was later charged with escaping from lawful custody – a charge brought under section 139 of the Criminal Code act of PNG.
Section 139 of the Criminal Code Act states that (1) a person who, being a prisoner in lawful custody, escapes from that custody is guilty of a crime. Escape from custody carries a penalty of a term of imprisonment of not less than five years.
His lawyer moved an application on July 13 to have the second charge dismissed on technical grounds as the accused is not a prisoner. He was only detained at the police station awaiting court appearance.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar on July 13 said the Criminal Code does not have specific meaning of the term ‘prisoner’ however, that application will come down to the meaning of the word “prisoner”, and whether a prisoner should be a convicted person or anyone being detained.
A ruling on that application will be made on August 11. Kange is also expected back in court for mention.
(Loop file picture of Kange outside court in June.)