Judge dismisses medical claims in K1.2mil robbery case

THE National Court has refused bail to two men facing charges of robbery because of the seriousness of the offence.
Justice Panuel Mogish refused bail for Charlton Eric and Jason Yvia last week after their lawyer pleaded their case on medical grounds.
The two were allegedly involved in the robbery of Tropic Air Cargo terminal at Jackson Airport where K1.2 million was stolen on Nov 3, 2016.
It is alleged that armed men stormed into the loading shed and held up the chief pilot at gunpoint and made off with K1.195 million bound for East New Britain.
Justice Mogish said the robbery was carefully orchestrated and executed with the help of an insider who was also refused bail.
Justice Mogish said Eric had applied for bail because he needed treatment for a bullet wound on his leg after he was shot, allegedly by a policeman.
Yvia has a growth in his eye which he claimed was affecting his sight and needed surgery.
Both sought bail to seek medical treatment.
But Justice Mogish said their complaints could be treated at Bomana and their medical concerns were not life-threatening.
“I have read the medical report and I am not convinced that their medical condition has reached such an advanced stage that poses serious risk to their health and threatens their lives,” he said.