Cops testify in Aust court

By HELEN TARAWA
FOUR Papua New Guinean police officers have for the first time given evidence to an Australian court on matters dealing with transnational crime.
Acting deputy commissioner specialist operations Donald Yamasombi told The National that this was done through a video link last month.
Yamasombi said for the first time, the police officers testified to the proceedings of a drug smuggling operation in the committal court in Australia through video link.
The officers were part of “operation weathers” that uncovered PNG’s major drug bust involving more than 600kg of cocaine estimated to cost about K160 million.
“It’s an ongoing case and Australia had also prosecuted suspects involved in smuggling the drug into Australia from PNG,” he said.
“We have testified to what we have done here in PNG,” Yamasombi said.
“What we did here also afford evidence to their investigations in Australia against those suspects captured in Australia.”
Yamasombi said the suspects captured in PNG had been prosecuted and were in custody, awaiting court trial.
He said they included the Australian pilot David John Cutmore, Italian yachtsman Carlo D’Attanasio and the three Papua New Guineans who were part of the drug smuggling operation.
He said this was part of the ongoing court proceedings over a drug smuggling operation uncovered by police in Papa Lealea in July 2020.
“This is the first time for PNG to give evidence to an Australian court on matters dealing with transnational crime.
“It is their committal process so as soon as they find there is overwhelming evidence, they may commit them to higher court for trial,” he said.
“They have all been committed to stand trial in the National Court with a date yet to be set,” Yamasombi said.