MP spends 10 hours in jail
The National, Monday February 3rd, 2014
By DOROTHY MARK
USINO-Bundi MP Anton Yagama was jailed for nine months for contempt last Friday – but spent only 10 hours in custody after the Supreme Court later stayed the sentence.
Justice David Cannings handed down the sentence on Yagama in the National Court at 11am on Friday.
His political rival Peter Yama was jailed for six months for threatening a police officer.
Yagama and Yama spent 10 hours at Beon Prison while their lawyers filed their appeals against their sentences on Friday afternoon.
The appeal applications were heard on Friday evening by Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika who was in Madang for the official opening of the legal year on Saturday.
The contempt charges were filed against Yagama by the National Court registrar, Ian Augerea.
Yagama was jailed for nine months for failing to stop his supporters from creating trouble against Yama while court proceeding on the Usino-Bundi recount on September 3 last year was still going on.
Yama was jailed for six months for threatening a policeman after accusing them of failing to prevent Yagama’s supporters from attacking him.
Cannings had instructed them to tell their supporters to avoid any disturbance or unrest during the duration of the case.
On Friday night, Yagama’s lawyer filed a bail application for K1,000 on surety to appeal against his sentence.
Madang Governor Jim Kas was the guarantor.
Yama’s lawyer Thomas Ilaisa applied for bail before Salika as well.
“We appealed against the sentence and verdict and our application was granted to stay the order for the sentence,” Ilaisa said.
He said Yama was granted bail on a surety of K1,000.
Wife Mary Yama and secretary Richard Kupo were his guarantors.
The Supreme Court session began at 6pm and ended at 9pm when Salika ordered their release.
Supporters of both men wept when they were escorted from the courthouse to prison.
They stayed around the prison premises until they were released.
They were found guilty of breaching a court order issued by Cannings on July 29 last year at Waigani.