Court points out failures

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POLICE should make sure they have the necessary files when they re-arrest a person, a magistrate says.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii raised the concern yesterday after a woman, whose case was struck out, was re-arrested and brought to court.
But police did not submit their investigation files.
In court was Elizabeth Ipi, 50, from Hanuabada, Motukea in Central, who was charged with abduction.
On Aug 27, the Waigani Committal Court struck out Ipi’s case after police failed to complete their investigation and present their file to the court on time.
Police had alleged that on June 22, last year, between 10am and 1pm, Ipi intentionally allowed the victim to be engaged with Adam Chin Cheah when she was still under the age of 15.
Police alleged that Ipi made secret arrangements and deliberately took the girl to Cheah, who allegedly had sex with her while she was still a minor.
The alleged incident occurred in an apartment at a hotel in Port Moresby.
Police arrested and charged Cheah, and later Ipi.
Ipi’s lawyer told the court yesterday that the arresting officer had told Ipi that the files were given to the police prosecution.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam told the court that he was unaware of the file since he was away and asked for a two-week adjournment so he could check with the arresting officer.
Magistrate Ganaii refused the (two weeks) adjournment, saying that files should have been ready before Ipi was re-arrested.
“My only concern is she’s not been served the file and she’s going to wait for two more weeks,” she said.
“The process is when the matter is struck out and when file is ready, then the defendant is arrested and file is served, why should she wait two weeks for the file?
“In my view this should not happen, especially when a case is struck out for want of police file and when you’re re-arrested.
“For a position for the police is that they should start with completion of the police file and go to arrest again.”
Magistrate Ganaii then adjourned the case to tomorrow (Friday) for confirmation of the police file.
Ipi is out on a K1,000 bail.

One thought on “Court points out failures

  • Poor policing again. It seems Incompetent and rogue officers must have been receiving bribe from Adam Chin Cheah.
    Waste of state resources and court’s time. Victims are innocently suffering, perpetrators walk away very easily and the cycle keeps repeating. This seems to be a norm.
    I think it is a need for increasing the 6 months police training at Bomana to 1 year or more due to continous incompetency in the police force.

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