Lawyer, cop face trial in murder case

A LAWYER and a police officer in East New Britain are to stand trial in the National Court for allegedly trying to pervert the course of justice over a murder case three years ago.
The Kokopo Committal Court last Thursday ruled that lawyer Justin Issac from Wabag and police officer Poren Yagiri of Kainantu had a case to answer, and committed them to trial.
Mr Issac will stand trial for five counts including conspiracy to defraud the state, false pretence, uttering false documents, perjury and fabricating evidence.
Mr Yagiri will stand trial for three counts- conspiracy to defeat the course of justice, deceiving justice and fabricating evidence.
Their charges arose from their alleged involvement with a former businessman in ENB who was acquitted of wilful murder charges by the National Court in 2006 and later re-arrested for allegedly perverting the course of justice.
The former businessman, Bernard Uriap, was also committed to stand trial again in the National Court last Tuesday on nine charges including two counts of deceiving witnesses, fabricating evidence, conspiracy to defeat the course of justice, conspiracy to defraud the State, false pretence, uttering false document, perjury and corrupting witnesses.
The three were arrested four months ago after investigations conducted by two officers from the internal investigation unit in Port Moresby.
Police investigations were conducted after a source revealed to police that Uriap had allegedly bribed witnesses to sway the wilful murder case in his favour.
The Kokopo National Court is yet to set a date for the three to appear.
Uriap is still in police custody while Issac and Yagiri are out on bail.