Arrest order dismissed

By BEVERLY PETER
A WARRANT of arrest issued for Chimbu Governor Michael Dua was dismissed in the Waigani District Court yesterday.
Magistrate Paul Nii said police had failed to follow procedures after the warrant of arrest was issued to the defendant.
He said the dismissal of the bench warrant against Dua was done because of a lack of evidence of progress on the warrant.
“There is no evidence on the progress of the warrant of arrest since the warrant of arrest was set aside through a notice of motion by the defendant’s lawyer on June 17,” Magistrate Nii said.
The warrant of arrest was issued for Dua on Feb 8, on allegations of official corruption and abuse of office.
Dua, through his lawyer, said the delay in the matter after the warrant was issued had affected his role as governor for almost five months.
Magistrate Nii said that it was up to the police to progress the matter because it was their case.
He asked the police prosecution what had happened from the time the warrant of arrest had been set aside to today and why police did not progress the matter.
“I believe the police have the power to arrest and withdraw charges after the warrant of arrest is issued,” he said.
Magistrate Nii asked prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam to provide a justifiable reason why the police did not progress the matter after the warrant of arrest was issued.
He then urged the police to execute any warrant of arrest issued and not to take action on them.
“You cannot just let a warrant of arrest hang in there for longer period of time,” he said.