Drug-related charges should be reviewed, says lawyer

A DEFENCE lawyer has argued that two drug-related charges against his client should be reviewed as he was charged before Parliament passed the new drug laws.
Lawyer Simon Nutley of Fiocco and Nutley Lawyers was applying for bail for Sanctuary Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang who is facing two charges in relation to drugs allegedly found in the hotel on Dec 7.
Boroko district court Magistrate Garry Unjo adjourned the case to today to hear the bail application.
He yesterday ordered that Pang remain in custody.
Nutley argued that the drug discovered by police at Pang’s residence was legal because the new drug law had not come into effect at that time. Police Prosecutor Sgt Sendra Holland objected saying that Jamie had been properly charged.
She said police refused him bail because they knew they had charged him accordingly under the Dangerous Drug Act 1951.
Sgt Holland asked the court to remand Pang because he could interfere with state witnesses if granted bail.
Police alleged that on Nov 16 at 6.30am, Pang was at his residence at Sanctuary Hotel when the police and Customs officers taking part in a joint special operation called “Saki Bomb” conducted a raid using a search warrant.
They found white substance which was tested and found to methamphetamine.