Police gathering evidence

By GEORGINA KOREI
POLICE have collated all the evidence to proceed with the murder charge against Moresby North-West MP Lohia Boe Samuel and co-accused Fabian Hera.
Prosecutor Christian Iga told Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii that “we are only waiting for the deceased’s medical (autopsy) report”.
“We ask the court to adjourn hearing for two weeks for us to get Dr Seth Fose to sign the report. We will bring the report to Kerema for the doctor to sign before it is presented to court,” she said.
Magistrate Nii told Iga that the court needed to hear the evidence and how long the police would take to provide it.
“It is the constitutional right of the accused and the public to know when the police evidence is presented so that the court can proceed with the case,” he said.
Lawyer Edward Sasingian, representing Samuel, told the court that he would file an application to dismiss the case if police failed to present the evidence within two weeks.
“The police told the court in the last hearing that they needed adjournment to get forensic evidence as the files were not ready,” he said.
“Now it is the medical (autopsy) report.”
Lawyer Fredrick Kirriwom, representing Hera, told the court that he had no objection with the adjournment but would file an application if police failed to provide evidence in the next hearing.
Nii told Iga to take note that “even if the two accused are charged under Section 300 (1) of the Criminal Code, they are protected under Section 37 of the Constitution”.
“The protection should be applied to all accused and there should be no discrimination,” he said.
“I will adjourn the case by two weeks for the police to live up to their words. Make sure that you (police) do not come up with another reason.”
Magistrate Nii adjourned the hearing to Aug 4.
On March 11, between 7.15pm and 8pm, Samuel, 52, from Motu-Koitabu’s Elevala village in the National Capital District, and Hera, 26, from Koukou village in Motu-Koitabu, were having dinner in Fusion 2 Restaurant in Waigani with Robert Jerry, 38, from Bulolo’s Lagis village, Morobe.
It was alleged that they were having a discussion during the meal.
Police alleged that a disagreement must have arisen and Samuel allegedly drew his licensed firearm, loaded with five rounds of ammunition, and shot Jerry on the right side of his neck under his ear.

Pangu-led govt to introduce freight support programme

By REBECCA KUKU
A PANGU-led Government will introduce a freight support programme to provide air transport into rural and remote areas to support farmers in selling their agricultural produce, says party leader James Marape.
He was in Goilala’s Sopu village yesterday to attend a party rally.
He told the people that he grew up in remote places just like them and understood the challenges they faced.
Marape said he was advised against travelling to Goilala for security reasons.
“But I told them that is where my people are and I will go and see them,” he said.
“I was emotional as I remembered my late brother, the Goilala MP William Samb. He was a Pangu member too who had a nationalistic mindset and a lot of hope for Goilala.
“When I came to bury him, I promised that his people would become my people.
“He spoke a lot about the potential of tapping into agriculture sector and how the logistics challenge was a hindrance to many.
“Today, I come to reassure you that Pangu will carry on that hope. We will introduce a freight support programme for airplanes into rural and remote areas to support locals and promote agriculture.
“You can send your food crops to be marketed in the city via airplanes.
“Under the Connect PNG policy, we will not only be building roads but also upgrading and maintaining airstrips.”