Court issues arrest warrant after man jumps bail

A MAGISTRATE in a committal court in Waigani issued a warrant of arrest for a man who jumped bail yesterday.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii issued the warrant after Daniel Kasa failed to turn up for hearing on a charge of defamatory publication.
“The warrant of arrest is granted because this is the fourth time Kasa is not present in court,” he added.
Magistrate Nii said Kasa was charged with using an electronic system, Facebook, to publish defamatory materials against Moresby North-West General Election 2022 (GE22) candidate Dr Thaddeus Kambanei under Section 21 (2) of the Cyber Crime Act.
He was arrested and charged on June 23, following a complaint lodged by Kambanei.
Kasa is coordinator for another Moresby North-West GE22 candidate Des Yaninen.
Kasa is alleged to have on June 17, at 5.18pm, posted the defamatory article.
Kambanei went through his Facebook account to check his notifications and messages and found the post made by Dunstan PS (Kasa’s Facebook name) stating: “How comes a corrupt candidate like you Thaddeus contesting in the national election.
“You have been sack from misappropriation and stealing with from the people of PNG when you the finance secretary that time.
“You should be ashamed of yourself Dr Thaddeus Kambanei”. (sic)
Upon seeing the post, Kambanei felt humiliated and reported to the police cybercrime unit.
The hearing was adjourned to Aug 30.