Court to rule on tank theft submission

By VANESSA NIKEN
WAIGANI Central Court has adjourned a case of a man charged with stealing a Tuffa Tank to rule on a defence submission to have the matter struck out.
The tank, valued at K3,800, belonged to the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital.
Before Magistrate Alex Kalandi, defendant Kuso Paru, 42, from Kendal village in Imbonggu, Southern Highlands, through his lawyer Herbert Best Wally of HBest Lawyers, submitted that the complainant Dr Losavati William Daugunu Asi, was on suspension, hence, had no locus standi (right) to lay criminal complaint on any staff, including him (Paru).
“The charge of stealing the Tuffa tank of 9,000 litres valued at K3,800, the property of Laloki Psychiatric Hospital, pursuant to Section 372 of the Criminal Code, is struck out and Paru is discharged on the basis that (police) informant (Steven Bailey) was not sworn in front of the magistrate, therefore, the information is flawed in the proceedings from the outset,” he said.
Police alleged that Paru was seen at the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital, Central, at about 10.30am, last March 31 in aid of first defendant Moses Pingina, without the permission of Asi, who is chief executive officer of the hospital.
He allegedly directed the maintenance workshop workers to remove the Tuffa tank of the hospital and took it to Pingina’s house.
Paru was arrested and charged and detained at Boroko police station cells and later released on bail.
Magistrate Kalandi then adjourned the matter to Aug 22.