Airport gunman refused bail

A MAN who allegedly discharged two rounds of firearms at Port Moresby’s  Jackson Airport, contravening section 59 of the Firearms Act, has been refused bail by the Waigani National Court.
Justice Salatiel Lenalia, hearing the bail application, refused to grant the bail to David Mulunga on Monday.
Lenalia told Mulunga, who is the former chairman of the Moran Special Purpose Authority, that “the court takes into account the fact that you terrorised the public. You created fear in the travelling public and those who were around the
(Jackson) airport that morning”.
He said the offence committed on July 2 was serious and Mulunga should be remanded until all investigations had been completed.
The judge also pointed out in his decision that the two guarantors proposed by the applicant were not permanent resident of Port Moresby, as they did not have fixed addresses.
The judge also said the reasons advanced by the applicant on his affidavit and submissions by his lawyer that the applicant was charged with a summary matter and when he appears in court, “he will tell the court the reasons why his client discharged the firearm, cannot be accepted by the court,” Lenalia said.
“If released, there is a possibility he will not attend to further investigations. The interest of justice factor is overwhelming and, paramount consideration which I consider in favour of the objection.”
The statement of facts from the prosecution stated that Mulunga was at the Jackson Airport July 2 trying to catch up with some wantoks of his when he fired two shots, scaring the public, including, many other people who were at the airport intending to travel that day.