Officer accused in Rainbow murder granted K2,000 bail

THE Waigani National Court yesterday granted bail to the police officer accused of murder at Rainbow in Port Moresby last month.
Justice Teresa Berrigan imposed a K2,000 bail on former Const John Selan Lavona charged with one count of wilful murder in relation to an incident on Sept 16 in which buai vendor Peter Pamben was killed.
Justice Berrigan heard that since the incident happened, tensions had increased after Lavona was charged and remanded into custody.
Lavona, through his lawyer, told the court that he received countless death threats from Pamben’s (deceased) relatives since being detained.
The court was told that Lavona was working only for a month up until the date of the incident and strongly denies all allegations against him, claiming that he was only doing his job.
Lavona was the driver of the National Capital District task force patrol team that raided the area after getting a tip-off that people were dealing drugs where the incident occurred (Rainbow).
Justice Berrigan then named two guarantors to Lavona’s bail adding that both would pay a
K500 surety which would be refunded once Lavona fulfilled his court orders.