Cop charged with conspiring with others refused bail

By TREVOR WAHUNE
A judge has refused the bail application of a policeman charged with conspiring with others in an attempted armed robbery and murder at 9-Mile in Port Moresby.
Justice Teresa Berrigan, in the Waigani National Court last Thursday, refused the bail application of Gabby Gai.
This was after she found that Gai had committed the offence in April 2018, while he was on another bail for a similar offence. He was initially granted bail by Justice Panuel Mogish on Sept 24, 2017.
Justice Berrigan upheld grounds by lawyer Roala Kona from the Office of the Public Prosecutor that the applicant should be dealt with because he committed the offence while he knew he was on bail for a similar offence.
“The applicant used threat and violence, and also dangerous weapons while on bail,” Kona said.
“There is a high risk of him committing the same offence if granted bail.”
Gai, through his lawyer, submitted that he should be granted bail due to the issue of fairness.
He said his accomplices were granted bail by Justice Manuhu for the same charges.
Gai also said he was under constant threat at Bomana Jail because he was a police officer.
He also submitted that he was a police officer who served eight years in the force and had two children.
Gai also relied on a letter dated Oct 15, 2018, by Bomana Jail security commander Cletus Yaki stating that the accused and his accomplices were attacked by high-risk prisoners from other cells.
He said he was willing to pay a K1000 bail if granted by the court.