‘Australian’ Baure still behind bars

 By JULIA DAIA BORE

THE Waigani Committal Court has granted bail to self-proclaimed ‘Australian’ citizen Jonathan Baure but he remains behind bars as his bail money cannot be paid.

The Finance Department, which receives such payments, had yet to resume business after closing for Christmas and the New Year.

The court granted Baure’s application for bail at K1,500 last Friday.

Baure, who has been charged with “False Pretense” under Section 97(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Act, is being held at the Boroko police lock-up.

Police have alleged that he had signed “certificates of identification”, including travel authorisation and endorsement for 122 Papuans, mainly from Kerema in Gulf and Daru in Western, who were associated with the Papua movement to travel to Australia without proper immigration authorisation. 

Last Friday, Baure was granted a total K1,500 bail with the actual bail amount of K500 to be paid by him. 

The K1,000 added were surety payments where K500 each was to be paid by two of his guarantors. 

This could not be paid as the Finance Department office was still closed for the festive season till next week.

Another important requirement by the court was that Baure must provide a permanent address in the National Capital District,  from where he would be based pending his court hearing and until its  completion. 

Boroko Police yesterday said that the information about Baure’s permanent address in NCD was still sketchy, although, it is believed to be a location somewhere in Sabama.  

Waigani Committal Court magistrate Lawrence Kangwia’s conditions granting Baure bail was that he remained within NCD until his hearings and that a total of K1,500 bail was paid for his release.

Baure, 44, from Tufi in Northern, was arrested in Daru over a week ago after he was apprehended trying to lead a protest to Australian authorities with more than a hundred followers .

 He was transported to Port Moresby where he was detained in custody.

Baure is expected to face committal proceedings on Feb 3.

Meanwhile, all lower courts throughout the country were closed for the holidays until next Monday.