Chinese man’s wilful damage case struck out

A WAIGANI committal court magistrate struck out a case of a Chinese man charged with wilful damage and arson yesterday for want of prosecution.
Magistrate Billy Pidu struck out the case of John Wu Jeng, 55, from Chong Ciang City, Schang Province, China, and said he was surprised that there was no communication from the arresting officer, Lawrence Kurangani.
“I’m not satisfied with the attitude of the arresting officer,” he said.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Holland said she had not received any instruction from the arresting officer.
Magistrate Pidu struck out the case and said Wu’s bail money be refunded.
Police allege that between June 2 and Aug 18, last year, Wu, known as John in Papua New Guinea, was at Napanapa, Hiri-West, doing trucking business at the Motukea main wharf area outside Port Moresby.
On June 2 and 3, last year, Wu met six local youths at Arama Trading along Papa Lealea Road and asked the youths to do a job for him which was to set fire to four Howo trucks belonging to Pacific Islands Express Services Ltd.
Wu promised the youths he would pay a commission of K10,000 for each vehicle.
After the conversation, the youths were given K50.
Last Aug, between 2am and 3am, the youths went to the Pacific Islands Express Services yard.
Two of them stood guard outside while four of them gained entry by cutting the wire from the back and broke the front window glasses of the four trucks, poured kerosene onto the seats and lit matches and fireworks.
Sometime later, the youths approached Wu to pay them their commission but Wu refused because they did not complete the job by burning the trucks to ashes.
The youths felt offended when the police investigation were going on and went forward and gave their witness statements to police.
Wu was then taken in for questioning at the organised crime unit office at the police headquarters.
He was arrested and charged with four counts of wilful damage and two counts of arson.
Wu was then detained at the Boroko cell house and later released on bail.