Five arson suspects granted bail

FIVE suspects in an arson case in the Wasu township of Tewae-Siassi in Morobe two weeks ago, have been granted bail by the Lae Committal Court.
The suspects accused of burning a bottle shop and a service station appeared from custody on Friday and were each granted bail for K500, their two guarantors paid a surety of K200 each.
On Nov 12, seven others charged with the same offence at the same place had their K500 police bail converted to court bail by the same court.
Robert Buka, Wangi Natong, Loti Selo, Peros Kenny and Kerry Tembe, all male adults from Ulut village in the Wasu local level government area, appeared before Magistrate Pious Tapil, charged with arson.
Police alleged that they looted a bottle shop and burnt down a shop and a fuel service station at Wasu on Oct 12.
Police brief stated that the incidents happened after a drinking party that had gone wrong when argument arose and a man’s leg was chopped with a bush knife.
In retaliation, the relatives of the injured man at Ulut village stormed the Sapugodas Business Group premises, broke into its bottle shop, looted it and later set fire to it and a nearby service station.
When granting bail to the five suspects, Magistrate Tapil said Wasu station was becoming like other outstations in Morobe where people were starting to burn down houses and properties.
“You all, hereby, have to stick to strict bail conditions and must not leave Lae until your court proceedings come to an end,” Magistrate Tapil told the defendants.
They will appear in the same court for mention on Jan 17.
He further asked that the defendants be with one of their guarantors for the own safety and not go home, adding that if they went, people may think that the court had struck out their case.
They will appear in the same court for mention on Jan 17.