Court orders six soldiers to be remanded at Bomana
The National, Tuesday April 12th, 2016
By HENRY PAMBUAI
THE Bomana Committal Court yesterday ordered six soldiers charged with the murder of a student last year to be remanded at Bomana prison while awaiting the outcome of their bail application.
Magistrate John Kaumi issued the order after the soldiers’ lawyer Ignatius Mambei failed to file an affidavit from the PNG Defence Force hierarchy stating why the men should be remanded at Murray Barracks and not Bomana.
The soldiers are Kenneth Yangun, 25, of Bela village in Mendi, Southern Highlands, Jude Nidung, 24, of Yunzaing village in Finschhafen, Morobe, Alwin Matiabe, 26, of Guala village in Koroba, Hela, Gregory Tuaki, 28, of Dinam village in Bogia, Madang, David Travolta, 23, of Nuknuk village in Huon Gulf, Morobe, and Tobias Samson, 26, of Singin village in Baiyer, Western Highlands.
Kaumi ordered the police prosecution and Mambei last Monday to file affidavits from their superiors before returning to court yesterday to allow him to decide on the issue of custody.
He told the soldiers, whose lawyer did not turn up in court, that the prosecution was the only party that filed an affidavit from its superior Acting Commissioner of Police Sylvester Kalaut.
Kaumi said Kalaut’s affidavit clearly confirmed that the arrangement to have the soldiers remanded at Murray Barracks was no longer in effect as it was only temporary.
In handing down the ruling, Kaumi told the soldiers they were no different to other defendants held in custody at Bomana while awaiting their respective bail applications.
The six soldiers were initially arrested and charged on Oct 19 at the Boroko Police Station after they allegedly murdered then 17-year-old Jeremiah Yinu at Coronation Primary School on July 25.
Their case was struck out last month because their police files were completed but they were rearrested and charged again.
Yinu, of Bogia, Madang, was a Grade 11 student when the alleged incident occurred.
He remained in a coma at the Port Moresby General Hospital until his passing.