Court wants explanation on remandees’ absence

By GIDEON KINDIWA
A MAGISTRATE summoned the officer-in-charge (OIC) of Boroko police station cells yesterday to explain why remandees have not been brought to court for the past two weeks.
Magistrate Ernest Wilmot told police prosecutor Sgt Christian Iga to inform OIC Sgt Tinol Pakiaton to appear in court today for an explanation.
“Those in custody need to come to court. They have the right to be brought to court. Those on bail can easily make their own way to court, but what about those in (police) custody?” Wilmot asked.
“Who is charge of transporting them (remandees) here?” he asked Iga.
Iga said: “Pakiaton is responsible for arranging transportation for the remandees and it was a matter for North Capital District Metropolitan Supt Perou N’dranou to look into.
“The only vehicle available to transport remandees has broken down.
“That is the cause of the situation.”
Wilmot said remandees had been waiting for weeks and months in police lock-ups and prisons for their cases to be cleared by the courts.
“The failure to bring them to court only extends their time in prison, which is not right,” he added.
Eight remandees who were listed to appear before Wilmot yesterday were absent.
Similar sentiments had been expressed on several occasions by Waigani’s principal magistrate Cosmas Bidar.
Five remandees listed before Bidar yesterday also failed to be produced in court.