Pang’s bail request refused

SANCTUARY Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang was refused bail at the Waigani Committal Court yesterday due to the seriousness of the allegation.
Magistrate Paul Nii said there were allegations of serious assault and threat of violence against the victim by Pang when he allegedly raped her.
“There is also allegations of firearms found in Pang’s hotel room regardless of whether or not the firearm was used in the event,” he said.
“Pang’s bail would not be in the interest of justice since his action caused subsequent strings of several sexual assault on the victim by a taxi driver and a policeman, which were initially started by Pang.
“Both Section 42(6) of the Constitution and Section 9 of the Bail Act provides reasons upon which the court should be satisfied in order to exercise its judicial discretion on whether to grant or refuse bail.”
Magistrate Nii said he considered the two guarantors, Hillary Wong and James Pang’s affidavit, including Pang’s and the reasons for the bail.
He said he had gone through the police statement of facts and noted that Pang was arrested for raping a 20-year-old girl last Oct 12.
“Pang (allegedly) forced the victim to take a drug until she was high and got a blood sample from her blood and tested for human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) without her consent before raping her,” Magistrate Nii said.
“Police statement also stated that the victim saw firearms, drugs and pipes for smoking drugs in Pang’s room when she went in.”
Magistrate Nii said in the early hours of Oct 14, the victim was allegedly raped by a taxi driver and later by a policeman between 7am and 8am on the same day.
“When assessing everything, I am satisfied that certain grounds for refusal of bail under Section 9 of the Bail Act are met by police through their statements of facts,” he said.
Pang’s lawyer, Philip Tabuchi, of Young and William Lawyers, filed the bail application on reasons that Pang was a permanent resident in Papua New Guinea, working as a hotel manager and living with his wife and children.
Tabuchi also submitted that if Pang was granted bail, there was a guarantee that he would not leave the country as his passport was confiscated by the court.
“Pang had complied with all bail conditions when previously charged with being in possession of illegal items,” he said.
“He was also denied access by his lawyers while he was detained in custody.”
However, Magistrate Nii said what happened in Pang’s previous charge should not be brought to this court.
“I am only looking at what is before me now,” he said.