Lawyer objects to delay in robbery case

DELAY in investigating a robbery case by police has prompted a lawyer to object to a two-week adjournment of the case by the Bomana Committal Court.
Public solicitor Ila Pailaea objected after magistrate Cosmas Bidar decided to adjourn the case against Jethro Jim from Eastern Highlands.
Pailaea said the case had taken more than three months and the defendant was not given any instruction by the arresting officer.
“The case started on March 1 and now we are in June and still no reports from the arresting officer at the CID’s minor crimes office,”  Pailaea said.
Bidar told the court that on Feb 13 at the 2-Mile bus stop, the accused allegedly stole a schoolbag belonging to David Arangu.
“The bag contained an external hard-drive worth K1,300, USB cables and personal properties.”
Bidar told the court that the accused used a knife to threaten the victim.
Meanwhile, a false pretence case involving more than K30,000 was struck out by the Waigani Committal Court for lack of evidence provided by police.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar struck out the charge against Alois Kimo, who was alleged to have obtained more than K30,000 from Jamie Maxtone-Graham.
Bidar said that he had to dismiss the case because there was no latest information on the progress of the investigation, no instructions from the arresting officer and it had taken three months for police to provide sufficient evidence but till date had yet to do that.
Bidar said the accused first appeared before the court on February 11 and the second mention was on February 17.