Court refuses Pang’s third bail application

SANCTUARY Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang’s third bail application was refused by the National Court on Thursday because there was no change in circumstances from the first two.
Acting Judge Tracy Ganaii told Pang, 34, of Sydney, Australia, that the same court had rejected his pervious bail applications.
“The seasons on which the National Court refused your bail in March does not change in your current application,” she said. “The reasons were that the offence of rape committed involved serious assault and (included being) in possession of firearms and other illegal items.”
Pang was in custody for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in Port Moresby last year.
His first bail application was rejected by the Committal Court in Waigani.
The second one was dismissed by Acting Judge Wawun-Kuvi.
“In order for the same court to hear another bail application on the same case, there must be some changes on the reasons why the previous bail was refused,” she said.
“Although one of his grounds in the previous bail was medical, little was provided.
“And the specifics of the medical reasons in this current application was not one of it.”
Acting Judge Wawun-Kuvi added that the medical reason for the new bail application was that Pang was diagnosed with bipolar disorder which required proper medical attention.
“Personal disorder and recovering from leaving drug were not raised in the previous bail. Since there is no change in the circumstance and a new ground was raised in the application in the same court, the court does not have the jurisdiction to make a rule,” Ganaii said.