The Waigani National Court will hand down its decision this afternoon on whether it has sufficient evidence to convict five men who were allegedly involved in the K6m May Bank robbery in 2013.
This is the biggest armed robbery of any bank in the country's history at one time where armed men took off with K5.96 million on 4 October 2013.
Paul Steven, Samson Banaso, Hubert Korede, Stewart Korina and Gelison William have been on trial for the past three weeks over the crime.
All evidence into the trial came to a close yesterday.
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika this morning heard submissions on verdict from the five accuseds’ lawyer as well as the state, on whether there is sufficient evidence before the court to convict them.
State lawyer submitted in court that they proved their case and that the accused should be convicted for conspiring to steal.
They submitted there is evidence they took part in committing the crime and that they knew each other.
Defense lawyer submitted otherwise.
On Monday this week, the court discharged two men who were also on trial for the robbery.
Alphonse Samson and Sonix Alowale were discharged of the charge or information of stealing after their lawyer had earlier asked the court to dismiss the case against them through an application, they had no case to answer to, based on the ground that they were standing trial under the wrong charge.
They were charged with stealing when there was evidence they received stolen proceeds of the crime.
Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika allowed the no case submission, dismissing them on the charge of stealing.
He said they should have been on trial for receiving stolen monies and not stealing; adding it was late for the State to amend the indictment or charge against the two after the State closed their case.
Casper Louis of Salamua, Morobe Province last month pleaded guilty to the allegation of stealing. His case will be heard after the trial against the five is completed.
Louis, Steven, William, Korede and Korina were employed by G4S at the time of the alleged offense.