Kapris guilty of three indictments

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
MADANG Bank South Pacific robbery mastermind William Nanua Kapris and 12 of his 14 accomplices have been found guilty by the National Court in Madang.
Justice David Cannings, who took most of the day to announce his decision with three adjournments allowed at intervals and read a detailed account of how Kapris and his accomplices planned and executed the robbery back in July 2008.
All were charged with three offences:
* The first indictment contained the conspiracy and armed robbery charges; 
* The second indictment, contained the 13 counts of kidnapping and 14 counts of unlawful deprivation of liberty; and 
* The third, one count of receiving stolen money.
Kapris, Peter Alan Popo, Jacob Peningi and Johnny Gumaira were found guilty of all three offences.
Others found guilty on all counts of the first and third indictments were Joyce Maima,  Isabella Kivare, Ruben Micah and Elvis Bala Aka.
Colin Masilo, Damien Inanei, Kito Aso and Bobby Selan were found guilty of the first two but not of receiving stolen property as Cannings cited insufficient evidence against them.
Bonny Solomon and Warren Kia were cleared of all charges against them and are to be released as soon as release orders are signed.
Cannnings also ordered that Masilo and Peningi, who are currently out on bail, be immediately arrested and remanded. The duo had been diligently appearing from bail.
Tomorrow is set aside for sentencing.
It was also brought up in court that lawyer assisting Kapris, David Dotaona of Dotaona Lawyers had emailed Judge Cannings notifying his client that he had ceased to represent Kapris.
The statement has now thrown the case into disarray, forcing a new representation from somewhere yet to be decided on.
Cannings said: “We will take it one day at a time.”
But the judge also asked the state solicitors to consider representing Kapris.