Officer told to explain

A MAGISTRATE has ordered an arresting officer to explain why a man charged with armed robbery was kept in custody for too long without appearing in court.
The court heard that James Duwe, 21, from Kiangu village, Daulo in Eastern Highlands, was arrested last Dec 10 and first appeared in court on Jan 10.
Lae Committal Court senior magistrate Pious Tapil said under the Arrest Act, the defendant should appear in court no more than 30 days from the day of arrest.
Tapil also said it is almost four months and the police file is not ready to be tendered in court.
While fixing the final adjournment date to today (Mar 14), the magistrate said: “The arresting officer will have to appear in court to explain why the files are not ready.” The senior magistrate said during December last year, he had conducted special court sittings and
asked why the defendant was not brought to court at that time.
“This case should have come before me when I conducted those special court sittings in December last year,” he said.
He said the case has been prolonged and Duwe was in custody for too long. Police brief in court alleged that Duwe on Dec 9 at Church Corner bus-stop, back road in Lae, used violence to steal K14 from Jonathan Jim.
He was allegedly armed with a bush knife and was in the company of five others.
The offence allegedly committed by Duwe contravenes Section 386 (1) (2) (a) (b) (c) of the PNG Criminal Code Act.