Robbery suspects to stand trial

THE Waigani Committal Court on Friday found sufficient evidence against two men charged with using two pistols to rob the Rainbow Stop & Shop of K130,000 last April 19.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii ordered Martin Kageni and Joseph Utu Kende, charged with two counts each of armed robbery and a count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle, to return to court on March 15 for their mitigating statements and remanded both.
Magistrate Ganaii relied on 15 witness statements for Kageni’s case and 44 witness statements for Kende’s case.
Both raised issues of identification in their submissions but Magistrate Ganaii said it was something for a proper trial as the committal courts were only tasked to determine whether there were enough evidence to make out a case.
It was alleged that Kageni, Kawage Gene, Joseph Utu and three others, armed with two pistols, robbed the shop of K137,625 in daily takings and two mobile phones belonging to the employees.
They allegedly stole a vehicle two days earlier, a white Nissan Fuga sedan – registration BEI 735, at Waigani valued at K58,000, belonging to George Griffin and used it in the robbery.
The loot was taken to Taurama Valley where it was allegedly shared.
Kageni was arrested on May 8 and Kende was arrested in Dogura.
Benjo Wari was arrested on May 21 and was released after giving a confessional statement.
Gene was arrested, including a woman named Mary Vagi who worked with the Pacific Corporate Securities attached to Stop & Shop.