Case struck out over lack of evidence

By BOURA GORUKILA
A FORMER government officer charged with stealing more than K115,000 by accessing a former colleague’s bank account and later admitting to the offence, was freed by the court yesterday because of insufficient evidence.
Magistrate Garry Unjo discharged Amanda Yeou, 25, from Sossi village, Vanimo Green, West Sepik, a former public servant of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology from one count of stealing and ordered that her bail money of K2,000 be refunded.
Magistrate Unjo said the charge of stealing under section 372(1) that Yeou was charged with, was defective as it didn’t discharge the intention to defraud.
“Yeou admitted to stealing but the complainant, Leah Margis, is unsure of how much money was drawn from her account,” he said.
He relied on the statements of two police officers and the complainant.
“The two police officers gave statements of how they facilitated the arrest and conducted the record of interview,” he said.
“Police statements are based on hearsay where they say K118,000 was stolen but statement of facts says more than K115,000 was stolen.”