Court considers no-case claim by Iranian refugee

By PERO SIMINJI
A LAWYER representing Iranian refugee Loghman Sawari moved a no-case submission yesterday at the Waigani District Court before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli.
The submission made by a defendant states that the claim or prosecution was not sufficient for conviction or judgment.
Sawari, 21 and from Hai Al Daire village in Iran, was charged with providing falsified information to obtain a passport from the Immigration and Citizens Service Office (ICSO) in Port Moresby.
His lawyer Loani Henao told the court that the two main witnesses identified in the case failed to show in court that Sawari obtained a passport No – 13385.
“There was no evidence as to what the falsified statements were and who actually provided or wrote those statements,” Henao said.
He said there was no evidence to confirm the receiving of the passport by Sawari from the department concerned.
“Also, there was no evidence to show that the passport No -133854 being produced for Sawari to travel to Fiji,” Henao said.
“Therefore, Sawari’s case should be dismissed for lacking evidence on the part of the witness and also the prosecution did not produce the evidence required in court.”
The prosecution told the court that they needed time to reply to Henao’s no-case submission and asked the court to adjourn the matter.
Gauli agreed and adjourned the matter to April 4.
Sawari’s police bail of K1000 was extended.
On July 8, last year Sawari allegedly provided false information to the ICSO and obtained a passport.
He then travelled to Fiji to seek asylum but was deported back to PNG where he was arrested and charged.