Court rejects police application to vary bail

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS
The Waigani Committal Court has rejected an application by police to vary the bail of a Malaysian man facing a charge of misappropriating K352,000 belonging to a company.
The application was filed by Chief Inspector Stanley Poga on June 10 to have the bail conditions for Peter Ling Koh Woo varied and revoked.
“The court finds this application absurd because it first of all asks for variation of bail conditions, and then to have it revoked,” Bidar said. He said the application was misconceived.
Bidar also refused another application moved by the Immigration Department against Woo to have the court hand over his (Woo’s) passport so that he could be deported.
Lawyer Barrion Kua representing the Chief Immigration officer and Foreign Affairs Minister also moved that application on June 10.
Bidar said  the application did not make any legislative approach on any criminal charges under the Immigration Act of which the court is vested on.
He said the applicant however only came before the court as an intervener to seek release of Woo’s passport without being interested in his criminal charges.
“The defendant is currently facing serious criminal allegations which the police wants him to answer. On the other hand, the Foreign Affairs wants him out of the country,” Bidar said.
Bidar said the issue to deport Woo was an administrative matter which had to be considered by the department responsible. He refused both applications and told the parties to return to court on July 20.
Woo’s passport was confiscated by the court registry officers to ensure he does not leave the country.
He was arrested and charged for false pretense with intent to defraud, misappropriation and two counts of attempts to pervert the course of justice while employed as a managing director of a company between Oct 11, 2012, and Oct 7, 2015. He allegedly applied to his own use K352,794.73 belonging to that company.
It was also alleged that on Aug 5, 2013 Woo entered into a logging and marketing agreement.
It was also alleged that between Oct 1 and 30, 2015, Woo was alleged to have lodged complaints with police against a Jackie Lee and another worker.