Police ask court to withdraw charges against Yama

The National National
Madang Governor Peter Yama flanked by his supporters at the court house in Madang on Wednesday. – Picture courtesy of DANIEL KUMBON JNR

Police have asked the Madang Committal Court to withdraw a criminal case against Madang governor Peter Yama and 15 others due to technical grounds.
Yama and 15 others are facing corruption and misappropriation charges in relation to the alleged misuse of K6 million of the Manam Resettlement funds.
Police prosecution told magistrate Alex Kalandi on Wednesday that police had the power to withdraw the case.
The police relied on section 61 (A) of the District Court Act (Withdrawal of Information) and section 97 of the Constitution (Functions of the Police Force) and asked the court to withdraw the case.
Police made this submission after lawyers representing Yama told the Court that the search warrant was defective.
Yama’s lawyer Thomas Elijah said police obtained a search warrant from the Madang district court on Oct 29, 2021, however, Yama obtained a stay order on the warrant from the Madang District Court the next day which made the warrant defective.
Lawyers representing the others agreed with the submission.
Magistrate Kalandi said he would give a ruling today.
They are out on extended bail.