Micro bank robbery suspects out on bail

 By JACOB POK

TWO suspects, alleged to have been involved in aiding a robbery of more than K48,000 from the Nationwide Micro Bank early this month in Boroko, Port Moresby, were released on bail by the Waigani National Court last Friday.

Andrias Diaka and Christopher Sagoi were arrested by police near Korobosea on Dec 16 while they were travelling on a vehicle which was alleged to be the getaway vehicle.

Diaka and Sagoi were believed to have assisted in the getaway part of the robbery. 

While making submissions on bail, counsel assisting the duo, Henao Kevao, submitted that the two suspects were victim of circumstances as they happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when the robbery took place. 

He said Diaka and Sagoi were not armed at the time of the arrest. 

He submitted that according to police report, there were three other principal suspects who were fully armed with pistols and pulled off the robbery and escaped with substantial amount of money in a CRV Honda vehicle.

The three suspects are still at large.

Kevao submitted to the court that the two were just victims of circumstances and they have the right to be bailed.

State lawyers argued that there was substantial amount of money robbed from a bank that was introduced to assist ordinary citizens.

They added that the matter was a fresh matter and investigations were still in progress and the two accused would be needed to assist in police investigations into the robbery case. 

Justice Ere Kariko, after going through the submissions, ruled that the two accused be granted K1,000 bail each and report to the Waigani Committal Court when instructed to do so.