Man accused of cheating to stand trial

By BARBARA DERUAGE
A 40-year-old man accused of cheating a couple off their property and selling it to another person, was committed by a court to face trial at the National Court.
The Waigani Committal Court found sufficient evidence against Leo Kipoge from Meremanda village, Kompiam-Ambum in Enga, for a charge of false pretence and made a ruling for his case to go before the National Court.
On April 14 last year, Kipoge, entered into an agreement with Anton Kolin to sell a land described as portion 2157, at Bushwara in 9-Mile, Port Moresby, on the pretext that he was the owner of the land described.
Kipoge was in fact engaged as a care taker or security by Johannes Hapa and his wife, the owners of the said land, to look after their property.
The piece of land was bought by the couple in 2013 for a price of K20,000 and they have permanent buildings on, and have erected wire fence around the area.
Kipoge, without the knowledge of the owners, allegedly sold part of the land for K25,000 and received an initial deposit of K4,000 from Kolin with the balance to be paid at a later date.
The alleged deal was discovered by Hapa, when Kolin moved into the area after a few days and started to fix an incomplete house built by Kipoge.
Hapa lodged a formal complaint at Gordon Police Station and Kipoge was arrested and charged with false pretence.