Court revokes duo’s bail, adds murder charges after victim dies

TWO men accused of wounding and burning down five houses in election-related violence in Bulolo, Morobe, have had their bail revoked by a court after a victim of the incident died and additional murder charges were laid.
Bruno Pion Konzy, 32, and Tamai Soga, 24, from Bulolo, appeared before Lae District Court Magistrate Edward Kupo yesterday on a K1,000 court bail each.
Bulolo Court circuit police prosecutor Senior Constable Adrian Copland informed the court that while the two defendants were out on bail on charges of arson and unlawful wounding, the victim who was shot by Konzy with an AR15 rifle died at Angau Hopital in Lae on Aug 1, 2019.
Magistrate Kupo told the court that a district court had no powers to grant bail to offenders in murder and wilful murder cases when he revoked their bail and ordered that the defendants be remanded until a bail application was made to a the National Court. “Wilful murder is a serious offence which a District Court has no jurisdiction to give bail for offenders, however, a proper bail application (can be made) through the National Court,” he said.
Police reports indicated that on July 9, 2019, at around 2am, the two accused with other men were disappointed over the result of Bulolo-Wau mayoral election where their candidate, the seating mayor, lost to another candidate.
It was alleged that they were drinking beer and accused settlers at Madang compound for not supporting their candidate and siding with another candidates who won the election.
The defendants with their accomplices threw stones and fired shots before crossing the Bulolo River and started chasing the settlers.
During their attack, they alledgedly looted trade stores, stole properties and burned five houses in the compound.
It was alleged that the defendants fired several shots causing settlers to flee in all directions when Konzy armed with an AR15 rifle shot the deceased Adolf Peter in the abdomen.
Soga also armed with a pump action shot gun shot another victim named Mathias Wang on his left leg.
Wang recovered from his injuries while Peter died on Aug 1 due to infections from the wound.
Both defendants were remanded in Buimo Correctional Services jail and will appear in court on Dec 18.