Court issues warrant of arrest for Australian lawyer

THE Waigani committal court has issued a warrant of arrest for an Australian charged with misappropriation because he has not attended any of his hearings.
John Bedford Bray, 72, from Queensland, did not attend court since his case started last April.
He was charged with one count of misappropriation of K126,000 belonging to real estate company Next of Kin Estate.
Bedford left Australia and has not returned.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam told the court that Bray, a lawyer, disrespected the court and the rule of law by not turning up.
“He was pretending to be sick and was actually walking around doing business in Australia,” Sangam claimed in court.
“He fell sick and was admitted at the Paradise International Hospital after he was charged,” he said. “He did not attend his first mention and continued avoiding the court until now.
“Some witnesses said he was walking around in the hospital as if he wasn’t sick at all.
“Then he went to Australia telling this court that he went to seek medical treatment but we heard that he was busy conducting business in Australia.
“This court cannot make a ruling without the defendant being present,” Sangam said.
“If prosecution establishes a prima facie case, the defendant would need to file a statement under Section 96 (District Court Act) and he cannot do that without attending court.
“We make an application that a warrant of arrest be issued so that he is brought under jurisdiction.”
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar granted the application and ordered for a warrant of arrest to be issued.
Bray, who was a trustee and sole signatory of the Next of Kin Estate, allegedly misappropriated the money by depositing it into his personal account.