Cop charged with drug possession

By GEORGINA KOREI
A POLICEMAN attached with Boroko public safety unit is in court charged with possession of implements used in the consumption of a controlled substance.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Albert Daniels read out the charge to Constable Joshua Yawizah, 30, from Koroba, Hela, and adjourned the case to March 30 for mention. Yawizah appeared on a K1,000 bail which was extended.
Police prosecutor Joseph Sangam said the case had been transferred from Magistrate Danny Wakikura’s court this court arraignment.
He also amended the place of offence on the charge sheet from the premises of a freight management company to the Boroko Police Station. Yawizah’s lawyer, Jeffrey Kolowe, from the Public Solicitor’s Office, asked the court for an adjournment.
Magistrate Daniels told Kolowe that the court would allow a two-week adjournment so he could seek instructions from his client.
Court documents say that on Feb 16, police from the special services division (SSD) attended to a complaint of extortion and deprivation of liberty that Yawizah and others had allegedly been involved in.
The SSD members sighted a vehicle parked outside Boroko Police Station and approached the driver, who was Yawizah. It was further alleged that when Yawizah saw the SSD members, he tried to drive out with his associates but was stopped.
The vehicle Yawizah was driving was searched by police who found implements and residual substances used in the consumption of methamphetamine.
Yawizah was questioned and he admitted that he did consume methamphetamine, but was not involved in its sale or distribution.
Yawizah was arrested and charged under Section 64 (1) of the Controlled Substances Act.