Bribery suspect in court

**Acting officer-in-charge of prosecution Albert Warkia with the nine packs of dried marijuana that were to be transported to Port Moresby.**

By ZACHERY PER
A 21-YEAR-OLD woman has appeared before the Goroka District Court this week for allegedly offering a K1,000 bribe to a policeman to release two drug smuggling suspects from a police cell.
Husi Lavi, from Rothmans village in Goroka, allegedly offered the money to Police Prosecutor Const Norm Autia for the release of suspects Benji Temex and Tony Wano from the Goroka Police Station cells.
The policeman refused the bribe and arrested Lavi, who was later charged with attempting to bribe a police officer to release suspects from custody.
The incident occurred on July 19.
Lavi allegedly offered Const Autia the money and asked him to release Temex and Wano from the cell.
Senior Provincial Magistrate Josephine Nindue adjourned the matter to Aug 23 for trial.
Temex and Wano, from Oliguti village in Lufa, Eastern Highlands, were arrested for trying to transport nine packs of marijuana concealed inside a large speaker.
The two were caught when security guards at the Goroka Airport conducted a search and found the drugs.
The duo were arrested by police and charged with possession of illicit drugs and appeared in court on Monday.
The matter was adjourned to Aug 23 to allow police to complete the case file.
Temex and Wano will remain in remand until their court date.