Court grants bail to 4 UPNG students

 By TABITHA NERO
THE Waigani Committal Court has granted bail to four University of PNG students who are charged with the illegal use of a vehicle.
Brendan Kisa, Elizah Nere, Divimal Marus and Frank Luwai were arrested last Thursday following a confrontation with police and security officers at the UPNG’s main campus in Waigani.
Lawyer Laken Aigilo, who presented the accused, said his clients were university students and first-time offenders.
Aigilo argued that the intention of their arrest was “unjustifiable”.
Police prosecutor Joseph Sangam did not object to the bail application.
Sangam said the students’ arrest last Thursday followed the burning of four vehicles and destruction of State property, which was “a matter of public interest”.
Senior magistrate Cosmas Bidar granted bail on three conditions:

• Defendants are to remain in the National Capital District until their case is finalised;
• they shall not interfere with any police witnesses; and,
• they shall not commit any indictable offences.

Bidar ordered Kisa, Nere, Marus and Luwai to pay K500 each for the bail.
He also ordered them to return to court next Monday for arraignment.