Magistrate Mekeo Gauli

Sios case dismissed

The case was also dismissed because no statements or affidavits were filed in the court files of the current case by the complainant and the witness.

The ruling of the case involving the alleged abuse of an ICT service (Facebook) as stated in the charge was handed down on today (Thursday) by Magistrate Mekeo Gauli.

Refugee to stand trial over false passport

Sawari and his lawyer appeared in the grade 5 court on Friday before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli.

He was formally arraigned, or had his charges read to him in court, where he pleaded not guilty. A trial will be conducted next Tuesday.

The 21-year-old was arrested and charged for providing false information for the purpose of obtaining a PNG passport from the PNG Immigration and Citizen Services Authority, a charge that falls under section 16 (1) of the Passport Act of 1982.

Retaliation lands family in court

Alma Jagiri (33), Bernard Jagiri (29) and a 17-year-old from Bauwame village, Tufi appeared in court after they were arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Alma's husband, Kelly Avedi.

They appeared before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli at the Waigani Committal Court, who read and explained their charge to them before ordering for the 17-year-old's case to be transferred to the juvenile court.

According to the police summary of facts, the incident took place after Alma went to her maiden family house on the night of Oct 29, 2016.

Student on sex charge appears in court

He appeared in court on Monday before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli, who read and explained his charge and the allegations against him in court.

The defendant, whose identity is withheld due to the age of the victim, was arrested and charged on allegations that he sexually violated a girl under the age of 16 years at June Valley on Feb 6.

The victim is 14 years old.

He was charged with sexual penetration, under section 229(a) of the Criminal Code act and Sexual offense and Crimes against Children’s act.

Police respond to Sios submissions

She returned to court for mention today with her lawyer before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli at the Waigani Committal Court.

Police indicated in court they will serve their response submissions on her today after court. Her  case will return on March 7.

Sios lawyers filed their submissions in response to the completed hand up brief or investigation files on January 16. She remains on an extended court bail.

Her case is still undergoing the committal court process which screens evidence to see if it is sufficient to commit to the National Court.

Senior Lawyer charged with contempt

The senior lawyer who has over 25 years of experience was fined K200 by Magistrate Mekeo Gauli for shouting at him in court because he didn't agree with the court's decision to detain his client.

Realizing his outburst in court, he later apologised to the magistrate.

His client appeared in court for the first time today since his arrest last year on 14 counts of fraudulently utter and 14 counts of forgery.

Tony Mark Ekepa is alleged to have forged signatures belonging to other persons 14 times on 23 Aug 2011 at the IPA house, Konebobu, NCD.

Cops detained over armed robbery allegations

23-year-old Pangia man, Joshua Yawijah, from Southern Highlands Province, and 46-year-old Dennis Aviupa, from Huon Gulf, Morobe, appeared from police custody at the Bomana courthouse this week.

They briefly appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli, where their charges were read and explained to them in court before their cases were adjourned to next month.

They were arrested and charged by Police Internal Affairs Directorate on January 4 this year following investigations into their conduct after a complaint was lodged by the victim.

Police officer arrested for murder

44-year-old Steven Numbos of Kragut village, Wewak, East Sepik province, went before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli on Wednesday. His charge was read and explained to him before his case was adjourned for another month, to give police crime investigators time to investigate allegations against him.

Charged with wilful murder on Dec 30, 2016, police allege Numbos shot a man, known to the court as Ija Mulugu, using a high-powered rifle.

Police serve files on Sios

Sios returned to the Committal Court for mention before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli today.

Her lawyer sought an adjournment to prepare submissions in response to the investigation files or hand up brief which was served on her by police.

Sios will return to court for submissions on January 17, 2017.

Her lawyer was told by the Court to file submissions by January 6 next year and police prosecution to respond to submissions in writing by January 10.

Her bail is extended till then.

Asian committed to stand trial over conspiracy allegations

Magistrate Mekeo Gauli yesterday ordered the committal of Sahundi Sanato to the National Court for trial after he found there was sufficient evidence against him.

Sanato, of Asian origin, was arrested and charged with stealing and conspiring with two others to defraud a man, known as Paiye Bale.

It is alleged that Sanato, between Feb and March 2014 at Waigani, conspired with Jason Koama and Beven Abi to withdraw K65,500 from a Westpac Bank account using a cheque. The account belonged to Paiye Bale.