Case thrown out due to wrong charges

THE Waigani Committal Court has dismissed charges of official corruption and conspiracy to defraud against a PNG Customs officer over allegations of her participation in importing a container of contraband cigarettes in 2018.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar dismissed the case against Custom Services intelligence officer Gloria Mugugia, who submitted through her lawyer Jerry Kama that charges by police against her were defective.
The court found that the evidence submitted were all pursuant to PNG Customs Act (PNGAC) and not the Criminal Code (CC).
“There is no legislation known as the PNG Customs Act or provisions in which the defendant has been charged with the information. A person cannot be charged for an offence not known in law,” Magistrate Bidar said.
He said the police special unit, Transnational Crime Unit, should have taken charge of the case as counsel for the defendant because the crime involved a bigger syndicate that involved police, Defence and Customs officials which required thorough investigations by specialists and experienced officers in the police force.