Police given time to complete probe

A MAGISTRATE has adjourned a stealing case for a month to allow police to complete investigations.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam asked for the adjournment because files were yet to be ready.
Waigani Committal Court magistrate Tracy Ganaii told Mary Vanua, charged with stealing K110,000 through false pretence, to appear in court on March 4 with her lawyer.
Vanua, 48, of Lese in Malalaua, Gulf, was employed by the PNG Bible Society as acting executive secretary when she allegedly committed the offence.
It was alleged that between Sept 2016 and Oct 2017, she did, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained from Rodney Pupu K110,000 on different occasions by using the name of the PNG Bible Society.
Vanua promised Pupu that the society would repay him with 30 per cent interest.
She obtained K145,000 and some money was repaid, with K110,000 remaining outstanding.
She was terminated by her employer in Feb 2018 after they found out about the alleged offence.
In mid-Aug last year, Pupu reported the matter at Boroko Police Station. Vanua was arrested and charged with a count of stealing through false pretence and detained at the Boroko cell.
She was later released on a K1,000 police bail.