Court adjourns defamation case

A 46-YEAR-OLD man charged with one count of defamatory publication has had his case adjourned to Oct 7 as the matter is still within the three-month period and the police file is yet to be completed.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Tracy Ganaii adjourned the matter of Alexis Tam Samuel Alaster, who is the god father of Adam Chin Cheah, charged with sexual penetration of a girl in a hotel in Port Moresby last year, where the matter is also before the Committal Court.
“There is no instruction on the status of police file,” Magistrate Ganaii said.
“The case is still within three months.
“Three months will lapse on Oct 7, therefore, we will have the case adjourned.”
Tam, 46, of Queensland, Australia, is facing a charge of defamatory publication under section 21 (2) of the PNG Cybercrime Code Act.
He was alleged to have, between last Aug 15 and 19, used an iPhone to record the defamatory material that said, “stop having an affair with my daughter or I will deal with you” which was directed at a Jeffery Kennedy.
According to the police statement of facts, Tam allegedly recorded voice conversations between Adam Chin Cheah and complainant Kennedy in Port Moresby.
The facts also indicated that Tam had circulated the voice recordings to his friends after recording the conversations without the knowledge of the complainant.
The complainant found out and reported the matter to police where Tam was arrested, cautioned and charged. Tam’s bail was extended.