Late Sam Basil

East New Britain senior provincial magistrate, Samuel Lavutul, made this known in the Lae courtroom 1 this afternoon after the counsel representing Shalatee Basil – the wife of the late Bulolo MP – and the five other defendants introduced himself.

The defendants appeared before Magistrate Lavutul yesterday afternoon (Aug 22) without legal representation. He moved the matter to this afternoon and told the defendants to make sure their lawyer is present.

The defendants are:

It was alleged that on August 22^nd, 2022, the defendants broke into the late MP’s house at Mumeng Station, Bulolo district, and stole K840,000 in cash and other personal items. Police recovered only K41,940.

The defendants are:

Lae MP and Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, made this statement to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of the former Bulolo MP, Sam Basil.

The late MP and his close protection officer died in a car crash along the Bulolo Highway on the night of May 11^th.

In his tribute, Rosso said: “On behalf of my family and the people of Lae, and as the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, I pay my respects and tribute to the late Samuel Basil, the former Member for Bulolo and Wau, and former Deputy Prime Minister.

Endorsed by the Late Sam Basil’s party, the United Labour Party (ULP), Basil Jnr said he voted at his village of Sagayo (Wednesday, July 6^th).

“I just want to make it clear to everyone, especially in Bulolo District that I have been voting for three terms for my father” he stated.

“A lot of people have been going around, saying that I do not have my name in the electoral roll.

“I voted under my own name in Sagayo.

“My dad’s name was also there but no one used it.

Morobe Provincial Police Commander, Jacob Singura, told Loop PNG this morning that as of Monday, June 20^th, they have been putting together evidence, witness statements and specialist and technical reports to hand over to the courts.

PPC Singura said they have compiled reports from the National Works Department, police engineers, from the National Forensic Science Centre in Port Moresby and doctors.