Application for return of money bags thrown out

AN application by lawyers representing the alleged Pindiu cultists to get police to return bags of money belonging to the cult movement was yesterday thrown out by Lae District Court.
Magistrate Posain Poloh threw out the application saying “it was premature as police investigations were still continuing” but said another application could be made anytime for the money to be moved.
Warner Shand Lawyers, representing the alleged cult leader Mingenang Arigenang and his followers, yesterday pushed for the return of the money fearing its safety.
The alleged Sanzao cultists from Pindiu in Morobe’s Finschhafen district had their case deferred from Feb 2 to yesterday.
The alleged cultists were re-charged under the Criminal Code Act for telling the future and their case deferred again to March 23, as police continue their investigations and seek new evidence that will enable them to lay further charges between now and the date of the case.
Paul Ousi of Warner Shand lawyers said his clients feared the safety of their money and wanted it to be returned to them or put in a safe place.
“There is no connection between the money and the charge of foretelling the future.”
“The charge did not specify that the money was accumulated as a result of fortune telling and it should be returned,” Mr Ousi said.
He revealed that it was on this grounds that they filed an application for the money to be returned to the defendant’s or stored somewhere they considered safer, like the banks.
Magistrate Poloh, while agreeing that anything could happen with the money, said it would be unfair for him to rule in favour of the application as investigations were still continuing and police might lay further charges or withdraw the case.
He said the money was crucial evidence and a lot was spent to move it to Lae.
Provincial police commander Daniel Yamasombi said, police with lawyers for the defendants, started counting the money yesterday.

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