Alleged sex offender freed

By JULIA DAIA BORE
SENIOR magistrate Sinclair Gora yesterday expressed annoyance at lack of police information before him on several serious criminal offences that he was hearing.
Gora, of Waigani Committal Court, who hears committal cases, said this when striking out a matter relating to sexual touching and penetration of a minor.
It involved a 62-year-old man from the Eastern Highlands.
“There is no point in judging a person when there is not enough evidence before me to make any judgment on such a serious matter,” Gora said.
He noted that the accused had been remanded at the Bomana jail for the last three months and the case still could not proceed because of lack of evidence.
Gora said police prosecution must ensure they relayed his concern to arresting officers who must ensure they had
sufficient evidence before laying charges that would stick and lead to successful convictions.
“The arresting officers must ensure such relevant information is provided, in time for the court to deal adequately with such matters.”
He said in the matter before him, the accused had a constitutional right of a fair hearing within three months of being charged.
The elderly Eastern Highlander was charged with sexually touching and penetrating a seven-year-old child in a Port Moresby suburb on July 25.
The minor was enticed with food and cordial drink to the man’s house where he allegedly committed the offence, the court was told.