Man to stand trial for assault over land dispute

National

A COURT in Port Moresby on Monday committed a man charged with assault, grievous bodily harm and damaging property to stand trial at the National Court.
The Waigani Committal Court, presided by Magistrate Mekeo Gauli, ordered Saka Ben Wia, 62, from Tsak valley in Enga, to appear at the National Court on Aug 21 for listing.
The court heard that the accused was in court over a land dispute with Jeffery Kennedy in Port Moresby on Aug 11, 2016.
Wia was accompanied by some youths and went to the disputed land.
He then ordered a back hoe operator to destroy the fence set up by Kennedy’s company, Net Holdings Limited.
The court was told that the land was owned by Kennedy during the time of the incident.
The court heard that the matter was settled at the police station but the accused went back and threatened Kennedy’s workers.
Wia and Kennedy tried to sort the issue of the damaged properties at the police station but the accused later insisted on engaging a lawyer.
On Aug 17, 2016, the accused attacked Kennedy’s workers and the police officers at the scene.
Wia told the court in a statement that the land was legally obtained by him through authorisation from the Lands department in Port Moresby.
He told the court that Kennedy
obtained the land fraudulently but he would prove his innocence at the National Court.
He told the court that the evidence by the complainant was an attempt to hide his fraudulent activities in the city.