Court rejects soldier’s bail a second time

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
THE Waigani National Court yesterday rejected a second bail application made by a Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier charged with wilful murder and two other charges.
Justice Jim Wala Tamate told Andrew Bai, 31, from Kurumul village in Jiwaka, that he was still at liberty to make another bail application before the Supreme Court.
Justice Tamate said he had reviewed Bai’s application afresh after another judge had rejected Bai’s bail after he listed a wrong guarantor.
However, Justice Tamate said Bai had failed to provide any evidence to show any exceptional circumstance in his case that would warrant an approval for bail.
Justice Tamate then used his discretion and rejected bail and ordered that Bai remain in custody from where he would attend his court case.
It was alleged that last Sept 16, around 1.30am, at the Air Transport Squadron (ATS) first block, National Capital District, Bai got into an argument with some youths at the nearby market area.
He then went into the (Kiki) army barracks, armed himself with a bush knife and returned to attack people at the scene.