Court cancels warrant

THE Waigani committal court withdrew a warrant of arrest for a 19-year-old detainee who allegedly escaped from the Bomana Prison.
The warrant was issued following a false alarm (escape) that was caused by the police who had failed to bring the detainee to court earlier.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar revoked the warrant after Daniel David was brought to court last Wednesday.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam told Bidar that David was in prison all the while.
“Someone informed the police that David had escaped, so we applied and got the warrant,” he said.
David, from Tari’s Henopi Village, Hela, is charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of unlawful use of motor vehicle.
David and three other accused, Joel Hondale, 19, Alosius Uri, 27, and Harry Ken, 16, who are also from Tari, robbed taxi driver Raphael Piu of his car (Toyota Camry) at gun point in 8Mile at 2am on Aug 4 last year.
Two of them acted as passengers and asked Piu to take them from Gordon to 8–Mile.
On arrival, one of them whipped out a pistol and demanded for the car key and another stabbed Piu on the right arm.
Following a police report lodged by Piu, the taxi was found at 9Mile on Aug 9 last year where the suspects were arrested.
Police also recovered a key to another stolen vehicle which was found in the ATS settlement in 8-Mile.
Bidar adjourned the hearing to Sept 6 for ruling.