Duo charged over robbery

TWO men were charged in a committal court in Waigani with armed robbery in Port Moresby’s Erima on June 11.
Magistrate Billy Pidu yesterday read out the charges to Andy James, 29, from Margarima’s Ambua village in Hela, and Samson Peraki, 24, from Wapenamanda’s Pausa village, Enga, and adjourned hearing to Sept 14.
On June 11, at about 8am, James and Peraki were under the overhead bridge in Erima and James was (allegedly) drunk with some of his boys.
“You saw Chris Michael and asked for a lamp flap and you (allegedly) started arguing with him and punched him on his chest,” Magistrate Pidu said.
“You kept on punching him and he managed to defend himself.
“You were accompanied by more than five boys and attacked Michael and his friend.
While Michael and his friend tried to defend themselves, Peraki allegedly got in the vehicle and took K15,000 and James’ brother took a Samsung S20 mobile phone worth K3,600, two Samsung A20s worth K2,400, all cards (NID, driver’s licence, Bank South Pacific and Kina Bank cards), including other valuables.
“You (both) and your accomplices then fled into Erima Tari Pack settlement,” Magistrate Pidu said.
Michael chased and fought with them and recouped K9,000 but K6,000 and other properties were taken by James and Peraki and their accomplices.
The robbery was reported to police and James and Peraki were arrested and charged with one count of armed robbery each.