Pang applies for bail in highest court

SANCTUARY Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang, charged with rape, has applied for bail in the Supreme Court.
Justice David Cannings in Waigani yesterday fixed Nov 21 for Pang’s bail application to be heard before a three-man bench.
He also directed lawyers to file relevant submissions before appearing before the court for hearing.
Pang’s third bail application was refused by the National Court on Aug 4 because there was no change in circumstances from the first two.
Acting Judge Tracy Ganaii told Pang, 34, an Australian from of Sydney, that the same court had rejected his pervious bail applications.
“The reasons for which the National Court refused your bail in March do not change in your current application,” she said.
“The reasons were that the offence of rape committed involved serious assault and (included being) in possession of firearms and other illegal items,” she added.
Pang was in custody for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in Port Moresby last year.
His first bail application was rejected by a committal court in Waigani on Feb 24. The second one, filed in the National Court, was refused by acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi on March 8.
“In order for the same court to hear another bail application on the same case, there must be some changes for the reasons why the previous bail was refused,” she said.
“Although one of his grounds in the previous bail was medical, little was provided.
“And the specifics of the medical reasons in this current application was not one of it,” she added.
Acting Judge Wawun-Kuvi added that the medical reason for the new bail application was that Pang was diagnosed with bipolar disorder which required proper medical attention.
“Personal disorder and recovering from leaving drug were not raised in the previous bail,” she added.
Ganaii had said that since there was no change in the circumstance and a new ground was raised in the application in the same court, the court did not have the jurisdiction to make a ruling.
Meanwhile, Pang is awaiting trial listed for hearing from Dec 19 to 21.