Cop to court: Money offered

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
A SENIOR police prosecutor has told the court that he was approached by a person related to a defendant and offered money concerning a matter in the Waigani Committal Court.
Sgt Joseph Sangam told the court yesterday of his encounter and asked that the defendant and his agents be restrained from interfering with State witnesses, including himself.
The defendant in the case has been charged with unlawful damage.
The defendant, Kensy John Komea, 28, from Usa village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was charged with unlawful damage, allegedly committed on a vehicle belonging to Samuel Inisi at the Vulupindi Haus in Waigani, Port Moresby on Jan 11.
Sgt Sangam asked the court for an amendment of Komea’s other charge of stealing to armed robbery also allegedly committed on the same victim.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii allowed the request but only arraigned Komea on the unlawful damage charge. Sgt Sangam, when asking the court to impose bail conditions, spoke of the incident.
“We will be asking the defendant to refrain from interfering with State witnesses, including myself, because I was last week approached by somebody trying to discuss this matter,” he said.
“Somebody approached me asking me to receive some money in relation to this particular case.
“That is the reason I’m saying this.”
Magistrate Ganaii said interferences directly or indirectly amounted to the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Magistrate Ganaii then adjourned the case to Feb 23 for Komea to be arraigned.