Alleged aide in Baker’s escape freed

ANOTHER suspected aide of Papua New Guinea’s most wanted criminal Tommy Maeva Baker was freed by the court yesterday for lack of police investigations.
On July 24, the Waigani committal court had also freed Philip Doop Savulo of charges of aiding Baker to escape from the Port Moresby General Hospital following prior to a series of crimes in Alotau in January.
Magistrate Comas Bidar freed Savulo because police investigations had lapsed the standard three months and that no police file had been served on him since his arrest.
Yesterday, magistrate Ernest Wilmot also freed Anthony Ralewa Tony, 27, after striking out similar charges because police investigations were also not completed within three months.
Defence lawyer Edward Sasingian argued that Tony, from Rigo’s Hula in Central, had been in custody for more than three months and yet police investigations were still not completed.
Tony, with alleged accomplices Heni Moss Mana and Philip Savulo Doops, allegedly aided Baker to escape at the hospital where Baker was receiving medical attention under the custody of Correctional Service officers on Oct 5.
Tony first appeared in court on May 7 and appeared for the third time yesterday without a police file.
Sasingian told Wilmot that Tony was appearing for a third mention and no police files had been served and applied for the court to strike out the charges.