Police confiscate accused’s vehcile

A vehicle of a former chairman of a landowner group in Hela charged with dishonest application was confiscated by police as probable evidence.
John Wakape, from Kopiago, was alleged to have dishonestly applied and used more than K6.8 million of land royalties of the Aiwe-Embe Incorporation Landowner Group (AEILG).
Counsel representing Wakape informed the Waigani Committal Court on Friday that his client’s vehicle was confiscated by the arresting officer on the day of his arrest and was not returned to him.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar said he was not sure if the vehicle was to be used as evidence or not.
He advised Wakape’s lawyer to write an application for the return of the vehicle.
It was allegedthat between 2014 and 2015, Wakape, as chairman of AEILG, dishonestly applied and used K6,842,300 for his own purposes without the knowledge of other members.
The money was paid by the government as landowner royalty to AEILG.
Police prosecutor PolonKoniu told the court that he had not received any instructions from the arresting officer on the progress of the matter.
Bidar ordered that the matter return to court on August 8.
Wakape is on an extended national court bail of K5000.