Policeman’s bail revoked by court

The Waigani Committal Court has revoked the bail of a police officer charged with armed robbery.
Benard Lilou, 29, from Manus, with others, allegedly armed with a firearm, stole 35 bags of betel nuts, five bags of mustard, K650 cash, a phone worth K1800, and other personal items worth K13,050 from Sep Lau on Oct 15, last year, along Laloki Road, Central.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar said the committal court or the police had no power to grant bail to a defendant charged with armed robbery.
“With the use of firearm and violence, the district court and the police have no power to grant bail on the charge of armed robbery according to Section 4 of the Bail Act,” Bidar told the court on Wednesday.
Bidar ordered Lilou to be remanded in custody and his K500 police bail be revoked.
Lilou,  a police officer attached to the Mobile Squad 20 at the Macgregor Police Barracks, 9-Mile, National Capital District, was allegedly travelling on the Laloki Road  with others in a police vehicle when they spotted Lau on Oct 15.
Police said Lau was driving a white Land Cruiser packed with betel nuts and mustard into the city.
Lilou and his companions allegedly stopped next to Lau’s vehicle, pointed their high-powered M4 rifles at Lau and others in the vehicle and ordered them out.
It was alleged that another police officer, who was off-duty at that time, saw the incident and proceeded to stop it, but was allegedly assaulted by Lilou.
Lilou and his companions then allegedly drove off with Lau’s vehicle containing,goods and cash.