Magistrate Cosmas Bidar

Andrew Jawa was arrested and charged for armed robbery and unlawful use of motor vehicle, with two others, over an armed robbery that took place at Koki in April this year.

While in custody, police and Correctional Service realised he was an escapee from Buimo and slapped him with an additional charge of escaping lawful custody.

He appeared at the Waigani Committal Court today where his lawyer made submissions in relation to the armed robbery and unlawful use of motor vehicle charge.

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar today ordered the committal of Jeffery Sheekiot of Madang Province to the National Court for trial.

The order came after the committal court considered Sheekiot’s statement in response to its earlier ruling last month. The court then ruled there was enough evidence for his case to go for trial.

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar yesterday morning ruled there was enough evidence in the case against Jeffery Sheekiot of Madang Province to commit his case to the National Court.

But before his case can be committed, Magistrate Bidar allowed his lawyer to address the court on it finding sufficient evidence against him.

He will return to court on July 19 where his lawyer will make submission on section 96 statement.

He was arrested on July 28, 2016, in Port Moresby and charged with wilful murder.

The Waigani Committal Court on Tuesday made a ruling it had sufficient evidence that this was a case of criminal negligence by Kange.

In light of the Court's ruling, he exercised his rights to remain silent in response to the court finding of sufficient evidence to commit his case for trial.

He is expected to appear in the National Court on April 24 for listing.

Kange is from Maia village, Pangia in the Southern Highlands Province.

Arrested and charged with one count of dishonest application and false pretence, Warren Koaba from the Central Province went for mention at the Waigani National Court this week. 

The court was told his case has been transferred to Goroka, which will be presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on April 3.

The Waigani Committal Court found sufficient evidence to put his case for trial.

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar told the lawyer representing defendant, Willie Allan, to make copies of his client’s files or hand up brief for the court and police prosecution because his files could not be found in the court registry.

The files went missing after he escaped from custody.

The Committal Court directed Allan’s lawyer to bring copies of the file so that it can assist the court in assessing the evidence before it.

Five men were arrested and charged over the armed robbery, which took place between 11.30am and 12midday at Harbour City at Konedobu.

Remanded at Bomana, the five accused appeared for mention at the Waigani Committal Court to give an update on their submissions on the respective hand-up brief.

Solomon Gonol, Paul Michael, John Sabol 'Ala', Jack Joe Hora and Shnider Bishop appeared before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar. Bishop is the only accused on National Court bail.

Bidar said many security guards are being charged for stealing and cases involving minors.

“Many spend the whole day on watch at places and maybe get confused by the heat of the day and end up doing things they are not supposed to like stealing or committing crimes against minors,” he said.

He made these remarks when reading the charges against a man from Chimbu who was arrested and charged for inappropriately touching a 13 year old girl at Morata 2 early this month.

Magistrate Cosmas Bidar sounded the warning when reading to court the allegations against a Woitape man from Central Province who was arrested and charged over the murder of another man at the Kone Tigers oval in Waigani last month.

Alex Kelei appeared at the Waigani District Court on Friday where his charge was read and explained to him in court.

Kelei was arrested over allegations he chopped a man on both his legs during a fight at the oval on Aug 27.

Both were arrested and charged under section 229 of the Criminal code sexual offences and crimes against Children's act.

One of the accused from Hagen Central in Western highlands allegedly sexually assaulted a boy in Port Moresby in May 1 at the Vadavada settlement.

The man who is a bus driver (identity withheld) appeared in court yesterday where Magistrate Cosmas Bidar gave a ruling on whether there is sufficient evidence against him.