Party agrees to free man

A MAN was discharged and released from custody on Wednesday after the complainants in his case wrote to have the case withdrawn.
Sipa Bal, 42, from Kerowagi in Chimbu, was charged with sexual touching in June and had been remanded since.
He appeared before Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Garry Unjo on Oct 15 but the court denied his discharge because the complainants were not in court.
Police prosecutor Sgt Karai Naime told the court yesterday that the informant tried to call the complainants to appear in court but they had not responded.
He said the complainants wrote to the arresting officer to have the matter withdrawn but they did not attend court as directed by the court.
“Prosecution has advised the arresting officer to contact the complainants of this matter as directed but they did not respond,” he said.
Sgt Naime made an application for the matter to be withdrawn.
It was alleged that the incident happened on June 27 at Saraga, 6-Mile, in the National Capital District.
It was alleged that Bal walked towards the victim (name withheld) and hugged her.
Bal allegedly squeezed her breast and then tried to touch her private part.
The victim was embarrassed so she ran towards a haus krai and told her uncle and Bal was reported and arrested.