Court rejects bail application by accused in failed robbery 

THE National Court yesterday rejected an application for bail by an accused in the failed K4.7 million failed robbery attempt last month.
The money belonged to the Bank of South Pacific (BSP).
Justice Panuel Mogish ruled that the charges against Allan Augerea were too serious as they involved threats, violence and firearms.
He said that if found guilty, the 23-year-old accused faced life imprisonment and might abscond to avoid it.
Furthermore, he said investigations into the Nov 19 incident were still continuing and that most of the suspects were still at large.
“Therefore, it is in the interest of justice that he remains remanded,” Justice Mogish said.
Augerea was charged with robbery, deprivation of liberty and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Earlier on, in supporting his client’s application for bail, counsel Greg Kunjip said Augerea was not involved in the attempt to rob BSP of the money.
He said Augerea was on Fishermen’s Island when he was approached by three men claiming to be officers of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
According to the lawyer, the three men told Augerea that they wanted to look at the airstrip on the island.
Mr Kunjip said that Augerea should be released on bail so that he could go home and support his wife and two children.
Justice Mogish said this was one unfortunate case where he could not exercise his discretion by allowing bail for the accused.
One man was shot dead in the attempted robbery.
The drama started when a chartered plane took off from the Jackson Airport to Tabubil, Western province, to deliver K4.7 million for the BSP bank there.
According to the police, one of the armed security guards forced the two pilots to land the plane on Fishermen’s Island.
Police, however, responded quickly and rescued the two pilots from the island.
One of the robbers was shot dead by the police.
An accomplice was arrested but two or three others escaped.