Schram’s case adjourned after former VC fails to attend court

The Waigani Committal Court has adjourned the case of the former University of Technology vice-chancellor Dr Albert Schram to Sept 27 after he failed to appear in court yesterday.
Schrams’ case was re-listed yesterday after he failed to show up in court on Tuesday.
His lawyer, Greg Manda, advised the court yesterday that Schram instructed him in an email that he was unable to return to the country due to medical reasons.
He requested for the matter to be listed after Sept 20 for mention.
Manda also said that Schram was unable to obtain original copies of his credentials that were subject of his arrest.
He said Schram had to undergo some legal requirements back in Italy to acquire the original documents.
Police prosecutor Sandra Holland objected that Schram had to be present in court before his lawyer could make any further applications.
Schram, an academic from Italy, was charged with false pretence by police in Port Moresby on May 8. He was released on a police bail of K2000.
Schram appeared before magistrate Alex Kalandi where his charges were read out to him on May 10.
His case was adjourned to June 11.
The magistrate also imposed conditions not to leave Port Moresby without seeking leave of the court.
A National Court judge on May 22 varied his bail to K10,000 and allowed him to leave the country and travel to Italy to obtain copies of his credentials (PhD certificate) and return by or before June 11.
Schram’s two guarantors were also ordered to pay K10,000 each.