Man in court over land row

A-50-YEAR-OLD man accused of stealing and causing damage to properties belonging to a company that had carried out an eviction exercise where he lived, appeared before magistrate Cosmos Bidar in the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.
Ben Lunga, of Momo village in Baiyer, Western Highlands, was read his charges and told to return on Jan 22 for further mention of his case. Lunga was previously living in a Port Moresby settlement between the arts centre and Erima known as Portion 1564, Granville.
Police alleged that in 2015 an eviction exercise was carried out and Lunga was evicted along with other squatters.
The (then) landlord, Macata Enterprises Ltd (MEL), erected spike fencing around the property measuring eight hectares at a cost of K1.5 million.
It is alleged that MEL was about to develop the land but was impeded by court proceedings pertaining to that portion of land.
Lunga is alleged to have a claim in equitable interests relating to the land since he was a long-time settler and had made some developments but had no proper land title.
It is alleged that Lunga, together with his agents and associates who had been evicted, came back and damaged the spiked fencing.
Police further alleged that Lunga and his mob sold the fences afterwards for their benefit.
MEL contacted and paid TKI Construction to put up another fence around the contested land.
However, it was alleged that Lunga continually interrupted and threatened the contracted workers and chased them out of the fence.
He was also alleged to have issued abuse and threats to the workers in company of his supporters.
On Nov 3, MEL called for police to intervene.
On Nov 7, Lunga was taken for an interview.
And later arrested and charged with one count of damage and one count of stealing.
Bidar allowed Lunga a bail extension.