Mechanic free after police fail to provide evidence

By GEORGINA KOREI
A MAGISTRATE has struck out a stealing and dishonesty case of a 54-year-old man due to delay of police evidence after he had attended court several times over seven months.
Waigani committal court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii told Charlie Bone, from Ialibu-Pangia’s Pokorapul village in Southern Highlands, that the court struck out his case under the circumstances considering his human rights.
“Every person has the right to full protection of the law,” Magistrate Nii said.
“You have been attending court for seven months with delays from the prosecution.”
Police prosecutor Christian Iga told the court that the police informant was involved in the election security operation and was unable to provide information on the progress of investigation.
Magistrate Nii said the court had given ample time by adjourning the case several times but the prosecution seemed to come up with the same excuses.
Bone’s lawyer Kayoma Akeya told the court that the case had been adjourned several times.
“I’m asking if the court can dismiss the charges against my client for lack of police evidence considering the fact that it has been seven months since he was arraigned on Jan 25,” he said.
It was alleged that on Aug 8, 2018, complainant Lepi Yamba bought a used vehicle for K6,000 from Islands Mobile Hire Cars Ltd and gave it to Bone to fix it as he was a mechanic.
It was alleged that Bone had a mini workshop at 9-Mile in Port Moresby.
It was also alleged that Yamba paid him K2,500 for labour and K3,000 for vehicle parts.
On Nov 20, 2020 Yamba also bought a complete secondhand harness for K1,500 and went to Bone’s mini workshop only to find that parts of the vehicle were stripped off. It was further alleged that Bone misused K6,000 given to him to fix the vehicle.