Court adjourns Cutmore’s cocaine case

THE Central Committal Court adjourned the case of Australian pilot David John Cutmore, facing criminal charges relating to his alleged involvement in a K200 million cocaine bust in July, for a month to allow police time to comply with formalities and compile their file.
Magistrate Laura Wawun Kuvi allowed the adjournment after Insp Boas Binuali applied for it yesterday supported with affidavits by investigating officer Sgt Anthony Sevese and Assist Comm Crimes Hodges Ette.
They had stated in their affidavits that police needed time to comply with formalities to compile their police file after statements were obtained from their Australian counterparts.
Cutmore’s lawyer objected to the length of time for police to compile a file given the status of her client’s medical condition but Magistrate Kuvi rejected the objection.
“Police still have a month to finalise the matter because of the reasons stated in the affidavits of the investigating officer and assistant commissioner crimes,” she said.
“The defendant will be brought in to court in two weeks’ time given his medical condition,” Kuvi said.
Cutmore’s lawyer Agnes Peter, from the Public Solicitor’s Office, said her client had not been receiving his medication as it was bought in Australia.
She undertook to file submissions and appropriate medical reports when the case next returned on Dec 15 for mention.
Three locals Dominic Terupa (Bougainville), Morgan Mogu (Central) and Shane Dikana (Central) and Italian yacht owner Carlo D’Attanasio will also appear with Cutmore. All have been charged in relation to the smuggled cocaine found near Papa and Lealea villages about 30km from Port Moresby.
Cutmore is remanded at the Bomana Refugee Detention Centre.