Pilot to return to court

By CLARISSA MOI
AUSTRALIAN pilot David John Cutmore accused of transporting Papua New Guinea’s largest haul of cocaine two years ago will return to court in two weeks.
His lawyer Friedrich Kirriwom yesterday asked the National Court for time to allow him to get an affidavit from Cutmore’s doctor, regarding his health.
Kirriwom said the polling had affected schedules and he could not get in touch with the doctor.
Judge Teresa Berrigan presiding at Waigani fixed July 18 for the matter to return and Cutmore was remanded to Bomana prison.
In May, a committal court found enough evidence to commit Cutmore to trial in the National Court.
After his first appearance in the National Court and confirmation of who would be representing him, the court gave time for both the State and defence counsel to fix charges against Cutmore so that he could be properly charged. This was because Cutmore was initially charged with two counts of dealing with criminal property and was committed to trial for only one count.
Kirriwom had said that the charge sheet from the committal court bore only one charge.
This charge was for money brought on the plane Cutmore flew to PNG but not the charge for the value of the cocaine and three flat screen TV sets with play stations which were also in his possession.
The committal court found enough evidence and committed Cutmore to trial for allegedly bringing in AU$75,000 (about K189,000) in cash on the plane
It was alleged that the cash was payment for three local men who helped transport the cocaine.
He was also convicted of illegally entering the country and for breaching the Civil Aviation Act .
Cutmore is serving a 20-month sentence at Bomana prison.