Man in court over robbery charges

A MAN appeared in the Lae Committal Court on Wednesday charged with two counts of armed robbery.
The two separate incidents were related and involved the theft of a vehicle and robbery of cash and valuables worth more than K30,000.
Jonah Johnson, 34, from Siassi, Morobe, was told by Magistrate Pious Tapil that since a firearm was used to commit the crimes, the court could not allow bail.
Magistrate Tapil said a proper bail application would have to be lodged in the National Court.
He adjourned the matter to Oct 23 to give police sufficient time to build their case against Johnson.
Police alleged that on Jan 24, the accused and two others armed with homemade guns stole, a vehicle after pretending to hire it from Diu Steven on Speedway Dr in Lae.
The trio then used the stolen vehicle to commit another crime that same morning.
They robbed a Chinese national, who had gone to a wholesale shop (JKT Lim), taking K27,316.20 as well as a phone worth K2,989.89.
Johnson was arrested by police on July 5 after he was seen at the Papuan Compound.