Magistrate John Kaumi

Pala’s case dismissed in District Court

The case in which Pala was arrested and charged for on Nov 2, 2015, with one count of defeating the course of justice, perverting the course of justice and abuse of office, was dismissed today.

All three counts involve allegations that he tried to prevent the course of justice when he consented to a stay application to stop the arrest of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for official corruption on June 17, 2014.

The case was formally dismissed from the Committal Court today by Magistrate John Kaumi following a Supreme Court ruling on July 21.

Aki’s lawyer told to serve submissions

Aki briefly appeared at a District Court sitting at Bomana this morning; seven months on after his case first came for mention. His lawyer was not in court today.

Magistrate John Kaumi ordered him to get his lawyer to serve his submissions on the completed police investigation files to the police prosecution team before the matter returns on Aug 22. 

From Tambul in the Western Highlands Province, 38-year-old Aki was arrested on January 5 this year and charged for the wilful murder of his wife.