Man’s case put off till Aug 5

 By CHARLES MOI 

A MAN accused of stealing goods and services from a Papua New Guinean Defence Force officer appeared before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar in the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.

Arox Wata, 42, from Nako, Biaro, Morobe, is accused to have stolen goods and services worth K3,390 from Major Ivan Timo. 

Wata was charged with stealing by false pretence. 

He is alleged to have met Timo from June 13-24 in Lae, Morobe, and told him he would sell 3.8kg gold to him and obtain the goods and services from Timo.

Bidar asked the prosecutor if he had directions on why the case was being heard at the Waigani Committal Court when the alleged crime occurred 

in Lae.

The prosecutor said Timo was a soldier based in Port Moresby and on duty travelled to Lae when the alleged crime occurred and Timo had filed proceedings in Waigani. 

Bidar granted Wata K500 bail and said it was in the interest of justice because of the presumption of innocence. 

Wata’s bail conditions were that he remained with his guarantors at 8-Mile Morobe Block, outside Port Moresby, he report every Wednesday to the court registry at Waigani and he should not commit any offence while on bail. 

Wata will reappear in court for mention on Aug 5.