Police given time to complete investigation

The National National
Source:
The National,Tuesday June 28th, 2016

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS
A COURT has adjourned the case of a policeman charged with false pretence and abuse of office because police want to nominate another prosecutor.
Senior magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned the case of Silas Mero, 44, after he was informed by the police arresting officer that they had nominated another prosecutor to deal with the case.
Bidar said he wanted to know why they had to change the prosecutor.
Lawyer Greg Konjib representing Mero told the court that the changing of the prosecutor was an abuse of process.
The case is currently handled by prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Sangam.
He told Konjib to make a submission on the matter on July 27 when the case returns to court.
Mero from Maprik in East Sepik, is alleged to have removed a police vehicle from the workshop at the police headquarters in Konedobu and took it to another workshop at 7-Mile.
Police alleged that the vehicle was left to the owner of the workshop to use.
An investigation sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) found that Mero, the officer in charge of the mechanical section, had taken the vehicle to the workshop at Seven-Mile.
He was arrested and charged with false pretence and abuse of office.
He appeared in court last Thursday. He is on a K1000 extended bail.
A COURT is allowing police another month to complete investigations into the case of five men who allegedly robbed a restaurant in Port Moresby.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned the case to July 29 because police files were not ready. There was also no instruction from the arresting officer.
He said the court would wait for another month for police prosecution to submit their file in court. The case will be recalled on July 29.
The five charged with stealing more than K2000 are; John Sabok, 33, of Kairiru and Schneider Bishop, 23, of Angoram in East Sepik, Jack Joe Hora, 40, of Gulf, Paul Michael, 35, of Morobe and Solomon Gonol, 40, of Tambul in Western Highlands. They allegedly robbed Daikoku restaurant at Habour City.