Court acquits woman of money laundering

THE Waigani Committal Court has discharged the case of a woman charged with allegedly conspiring with her husband to launder money.
Dianna Milate, 38, from East New Britain, was discharged by the court as the only evidence presented against her was from her father, who was implicated in the case.
Milate was charged with one count of money laundering, conspiring to defraud and dishonestly applying to her own use K3,980.
The money, drawn on cheque no. 662488, was the property of the New Guinea Islands Regional Public Curator’s Office.
Senior Magistrate Cosmas Bidar ruled that the matter be discharged following submissions from the defendant’s lawyer as the only piece of evidence connecting her to the offence was the statements from her father.
“Assessing the evidence in totality, the court finds that the only evidence against the defendant is the evidence of Vincent Paul Milate who is the biological father of the defendant,” Bidar said.
“The evidence of Vincent Milate is that he lent his BSP Save Card to his daughter and son-in law. That is the only evidence against the defendant.
“If the court discounts Vincent Milate’s evidence there is hardly any evidence available against the defendant.”